Paul Power was aboard A Rated© Photo Healy Racing
Liam Kenny looks to have an exciting prospect on his hands in the shape of A Rated, who made all to win the opener at Lingstown point-to-point yesterday, the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham & Ascot Sales Maiden Race for four-year-olds.
From the family of Punchestown Gold Cup winner Planet Of Sound, the son of Flemensfirth was appearing for the second time having finished third on his debut at Curraghmore last season.
Sent straight to the front by Paul Power, he kicked clear after the second last and kept up the gallop from there, going on to score impressively by four lengths in the Patrick Redmond silks made famous by Big Zeb.
"He got a spin for the first time last year and was a bit green. He knew his job there yesterday and he is just a proper good horse," the winning handler revealed.
"He will probably go for a bumper now around Christmas time. We haven't discussed it yet but I'd say he will go to Limerick and we will take it from there.
"At the end of the day he is a three mile chaser. He ran on ground yesterday that was plenty good enough, he would probably have liked a bit more of a kick in it."
Kenny and Redmond doubled-up with Redmond in the Kilmore Potatoes Ltd. Winners Of Two.
Ridden by Barry O'Neill the son of Tikkanen easily accounted for his eleven rivals by six lengths.
"He will head to the sales at Cheltenham next month. He is only a five-year-old horse and he is seventeen hands high! He will be right good horse in England." Kenny explained.
