Afrika too strong for Kid in opener Outofafrika proved too strong for the hotpot Charismatic Kid when landing the opening Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle at Navan this afternoon. Charismatic Kid went to post 4/7 favourite for the two-and-a-half mile contest and jumped out to make all. It appeared to be going to plan for him as Outofafrika came off the bridle after the second last but the market leader came under pressure himself before the last. Keith Donoghue sent Outofafrika to the front approaching the final flight and the Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding stayed on well in the closing stages to post a two-and-three-parts-of-a-length win. The 4/1 winner had some decent bumper form last season, including a victory at Fairyhouse, and Cromwell said of him:- "We've always liked him. He had a few nice runs in bumpers last year and a couple of times he was better than the result. "We always knew he was going to be better when he went jumping, he is very good at jumping. "Charismatic Kid is a very good horse and I was coming here today thinking we would certainly make a race of it, but I didn't know if we would be good enough to beat him. "I haven't thought about it (next option), but I suppose Christmas is the obvious thing. It is great to get a win today and he has a bright future. "Soft ground will suit him even more, so looking forward to it. "On that evidence he could (go out in trip), he almost looked like he was flat out all the way although he may not have even been at his best there today. He's a nice horse." (Quotes by Michael Graham)
