Barry has high hopes for Bentelimar Trainer Shay Barry is looking forward to an exciting campaign with stable star Bentelimar following an encouraging return to action at Punchestown. After winning a novice handicap at Leopardstown and a Listed prize at Punchestown last winter, the six-year-old lined up for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but failed to make an impact. With a back issue resolved over the summer, Barry's charge made his comeback under a big weight at Punchestown and offered plenty of hope for the future by finishing third. Barry said: " I was delighted with him the other day as it was his first run in eight months and he had an operation on his back over the summer on a kissing spine. "He was giving away a lot of weight, so it was a great first run back and he's come out of it well. "He's a lot stronger this year. Last season he had no real top on him and no backside, but he's just a different horse altogether since the operation. "We'll probably give him an entry in a rated hurdle in Thurles next week, but if that comes too quick, there's a handicap in Navan in about three weeks we'll have a look at. "We could go chasing at some stage this season, but we'll see how he gets on over hurdles next time."
