Soviet Pimpernel and Kevin Sexton© Photo Healy Racing
Gypsy Island is out for the season but all may not be lost for Peter Fahey in the quest for big race honours in the 2019/2020 campaign. Second at The Showcase Meeting at Cheltenham in October, the Monasterevin handler’s Soviet Pimpernel is now Grade One BARONERACING.COM Royal Bond Novice Hurdle bound.
“Soviet Pimpernel will go for the Royal Bond (Fairyhouse December 1st). He’s in good nick and working away well,” said Fahey.
Reflecting on the latest effort of the Elusive Pimpernel gelding, the County Kildare trainer revealed: “He’s come out of the run at Cheltenham very well. We backed off him a little bit and he’s really thrived. After watching the race I was worried that it might have left a mark on him but it definitely hasn’t. He’s working well at home and he’s fit and well.”
He concluded: “We’re throwing him in the deep end and this looks one of the strongest Royal Bond’s but we’ll know where we stand after it.”
Soviet Pimpernel showed smart bumper form, winning one of his three starts in that sphere. The four-year-old impressed on hurdles debut at Gowran in October before furthering his reputation with that aforementioned Cheltenham effort.
