The Mourne Rambler off the mark on hurdling debut Cheltenham bumper victor The Mourne Rambler made a winning start to life over jumps when landing the Cavan Developments Supporting St Marys GAA Maiden Hurdle at Naas. Tracking the pace throughout under jockey Sam Ewing, the 1/4f came through to chase leader Whisky Lads at the penultimate flight. A less than fluent leap at the last looked to have put him on the backfoot but the Philip Polly owned five-year-old showed plenty of resolute on the run-in, getting up close home to score by half-a-length. “When you have a lad like that it’s always a bit of a worry coming out the first time,” said Meade. “I was worried about the ground being a bit quick and worried about how he’d jump and worried about me getting sick! I was a bit revved up about him. “He jumped brilliant, which was great, other than the last. Sam said he let him into the bottom of the last because he thought he was going to pick yer man up anyway. “He said he raced very lazy and only when he went for him did he pick up. “I thought watching it that two-and-a-half is going to suit better than two and he thought the same thing. “Initially I had thought that he’d probably go for the Royal Bond but I think now we’ll probably go for a two-and-a-half somewhere, wherever that will be. I think, that could change. “I think Fairyhouse will be sharp. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have his chance in it but I think we’d be better off thinking about two-and-a-half miles. “It’s grand to start going well anyway. I kept thinking about the race in Punchestown where he sort of got lost in the middle of the race. “I told him to jump off handy today, we had our mind made up that we’d ride him handy enough and it worked out quite well. “He’s a lovely horse. He actually grew about two inches over the summer, it was quite amazing. He filled out and got heavier. “I hope we’ll have a bit of luck with him now and he keeps going on forward. We know he has ability so if we can keep him sound and keep going, it will be all systems towards the end of the season. “I didn’t kill him for today and he should improve a good bit, you’d imagine he would anyway. He hasn’t been over-worked and is still a bit big in himself. “He’s won anyway, which is the main thing.” On future plans he added:- “Navan has the Monksfield next week so that’s too soon and the next one in Navan is two miles. “We’ll have a look and see where the next two-and-a-half is. I suppose we’ll probably have to think about (the Grade 1) here on the 10th January. “That’s obviously the one we’d be thinking about around Christmas time.” Paddy Powers were unchanged at 14/1 The Mourne Rambler for the Supreme Novices' hurdle and went 16/1 (from 20/1) for the Turners Novices' hurdle. (Quotes by Gary Carson).
