The Rebel County provides Ahern with first track success Already successful five times on the point-to-point scene, Josh Ahern registered his first win on the racecourse proper when guiding The Rebel County to victory in the Buy Tickets Online Novice Hunters Chase. Trained by his father Garrett, Ahern partnered this five-year-old to win at Ballyknock last month on what was just his second start for current connections. Previously in the care of Noel Meade, the son of Harzand raced prominently on the outer and was second for much of the contest. Edging to the front on the approach to the straight, the 10/1 chance (from 16s) drew clear on the run to the last and increased his advantage on the run-in, eventually coming home eight-lengths to the good. Sent off favourite, but drifting from 10/11 to 13/8, Cause For Comment had to settle for second under Patrick Mullins for Sonny Carey, while the front-running Keep On Dreaming (9/4) was another nine-and-a-half lengths away in third. "We fancied him as he won his confined point-to-point nicely recently. There was a bit of pressure on today but it is good to have that pressure," the 20-year-old winning rider commented. "I kept wide as it was a little too wet around the inside and while he sweated up beforehand due to the delay, he carried me the whole way. While I wasn't sure how much he would find, he flew home. "All winter I was waiting and waiting to ride this horse as he seemed to do things easy and was happy in himself. Hopefully he can go on now. "Point-to-point winners are nice but the public are here today and the owners are very much up for it too so it means a lot. "I'm doing secondary school teaching and it is nice to mix it with having the horses at home too." The winning trainer added: "He came from Noel Meade's, we left him out until Christmas and I think we have a nice horse here. "It was a concern with the fences being omitted as jumping is the name of the game with him. "Tommy Singleton previously owned him and wanted to give him a break in a new yard and Seanie Farrell, who has horses with me, got a syndicate together. "The syndicate are from three counties, although the horse's name is tough luck on the Tipperary and Waterford lads!" STEWARDS REPORTS * Owing to the low lying sun, the Raceday Stewards granted permission for fences three and four to be omitted from this race. * Mr P.A. King, rider of Revolut Ned, trained by William P Murphy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount never travelled. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
