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Minella Study wins first juvenile hurdle of the season

Minella Study and Dan King.Minella Study and Dan King.
© Healy Racing Photos

The John Nallen trained Minella Study stayed on best under Daniel King to win the first juvenile hurdle of the new season when landing the Tipperary Town 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.

Prominent in the initial stages, the Study Of Man gelding remained towards the head of the chasing pack once Invigorated raced on into a clear lead after the fourth flight.

As the leader began to thread water after jumping three out, King led the closers, taking over in front approaching the penultimate flight. Felicity Smoak came through under Jordan Gainford to lead briefly on the run to the last but Minella Study was game under King, rallying on the run-in to eventually score by a length.

John Nallen said: “He’s a staying horse and wasn’t quick enough for the Flat.

“He was schooling all spring with the point-to-pointers and jumps well so we said we’d wait for this job.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.