Oliver Brady is dreaming of Cheltenham Festival glory after Maralan took the four-year-old maiden hurdle in great style at Navan yesterday afternoon.
The Priolo gelding jumped to the front two out under John Cullen and quickly settled the issue by striding clear up the hill to beat Kazan Lady by eight lengths. Brady, famous for his exuberant post-race celebrations, was again in top form after this victory saying, 'He's pretty well nailed-on for Cheltenham after that performance!'
The Cheltenham race in question is the newly formed Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, and Brady added, 'He was jumping badly but we sorted that out and the improved ground today was also a help.'
Lotomore Lad also landed the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final in decisive fashion. Donie Hassett's, a course winner last month, led three out for Alan Crowe and went clear before the last to beat Like A Bee by six lengths. 'I always knew there was a big one in him off this mark,' said Hassett.
Richard Kiely (18) partnered his first winner over jumps, to add to four on the Flat, when successful aboard Jasmin d'Oudairies in the College Proteins & Navan Shopping Centre Proudstown Handicap Hurdle. The eight-year-old was patiently ridden by Kiely, making steady progress to lead at the final flight before stretching clear to beat One Four Shannon by six lengths.
'Trevor Horgan recommended Richard to me, and they jump well for him at home. This horses handicap mark is a bit high over fences, and we'll probably aim him at the home Festivals,' said trainer Willie Mullins, who was also happy with the run of Alexander Banquet in seventh. 'That's the first time he's shown a bit of spark for a while and, although he's still in at Aintree, he could go for the Irish National.'
The Mullins-trained Davenport Milenium made his belated chasing debut in the two and a half miles beginners race but the 5/4 favourite was far from fluent before blundering badly and unseating David Casey four out. In a typically incident packed affair, Carroll Encore took full advantage of his rivals mistakes drawing clear after two out under Davy Russell to beat The Royal Dub by 20 lengths.
Russell made it a 50/1 double just half-an-hour later when the well-backed 2/1 favourite Beau Colina readily landed the two and a half miles handicap chase. The Tony Martin-trained gelding cruised to the front after two out, and was ridden out when idling on the run-in to beat Coolnahilla by four and a half lengths. 'He's in the Kim Muir and the National Hunt Chase but I think Cheltenham will come a bit too soon after this run,' said Martin.
The Cheltenham Bumper is a possibility for Firth Of Forth, purchased by JP McManus after his Gowran Park debut win last month. Joe Crowley's charge travelled well to lead a furlong out, and was pushed out by Kevin Power to beat Justpourit by seven lengths. 'He did it nicely and I'll have to discuss Cheltenham with the owner. There are plenty of good races at home, and I'd say he would prefer soft ground,' said Crowley.
Useful bumper performer Ray Boy got his jumping career off to a good start when making all under Conor O'Dwyer in the two and a quarter miles maiden hurdle. Pat O'Connor's charge stayed on strongly in the straight to beat My Native Lad by six lengths.
Alan Magee
