SHELTERING STAYS ON COURSE FOR FESTIVAL Edward O'Grady's hunter Sheltering completed his domestic preparation for next month`s Foxhunters at Cheltenham when making every yard a winning one under a confident Philip Fenton to win the Hurley River Hunters Chase at Fairyhouse on Saturday.Winner of nine races over the larger obstacle on the racecourse, O`Grady was over the moon with his prolific scorer: 'I thought he was impressive today and hopefully that will put him right for Cheltenham. He`s come to himself this year and I`m very pleased with him.' Sheltering is 3/1 favourite (unchanged) with Cashmans for the Foxhunters.O`Grady and Philip Fenton also finished the session on a winning note when Over The Bar made all to win the finale at the expense of the well-touted Bassett Tiger. 'He`ll be entered for the bumper at Cheltenham but I don`t know whether he`s good enough. I`ll have to talk to JP (McManus)', said O`Gradyafter Over The Bar recorded an emphatic 13-length success.Jim Dreaper ended a barren spell when sending out Alpha Blues to land the odds in the opening Rathoath GAA & Supporters Club Maiden Hurdle.'Jim had to go back to the yard to attend a horse who is sick but he`ll be thrilled as it`s been a long time since he had a winner,' said Patricia Dreaper, wife of the local handler. Dreaper`s last winner came courtesy of Ask The Umpire at Dundalk on the 12th May last year.Conor O`Dwyer shared the riding honours with Philip Fenton and also came away with a double sparked off with Shane Donohoe`s Cregg House in the 3m1f handicap chase before he teamed up with Outlook Good for his boss Arthur Moore in the beginners chase.
