Abou Ben (14s into 8s) short headed the heavily-backed favourite Its The Ice I Like in the 2012 Navan Membership "The Ideal Christmas Gift" Maiden Hurdle. Avoca King second in the betting, ran no race whatsoever and it looked to be going to plan for Its The Ice I Like when he arrived travelling well on the inner three out.
However Paul Carberry was also going well out wide on Abou Ben. He was slower than Its The Ice I Like at the last though and then the pair settled down for a fantastic duel. Its The Ice I Like had his head in front on the run-in but on the line he was 'nailed' by Abou Ben.
Andy Oliver trains Abou Ben and he said: "The owner (Patrick McElroy) is from Castlewellan in County Down. The horse came to me three months ago, having been off for over two years (won a bumper at Newton Abbot in July 2008 on his debut for Tim Vaughan).
"He has plenty of ability but he was fresh the last day and probably needed the run.
"Paul gave him a great ride there and the horse seemed to handle the ground.
"Judging by the way he finished he'll get further.
"My last jump winner was a couple of years ago. I think it was Appeal Denied (September 2009 at Downpatrick)."
Of course Oliver was in the news lately as his former charge Lucky Nine won the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint. He won a maiden here at Naas in October 2009 under the name Luck Or Design. (AM & EM)
