Well Set Up and Richie Deegan© Photo Healy Racing
The name Well Set Up was on the lips of many an enthusiast leaving Down Royal today, such was the impression she made on debut in the St. Patrick's Day Punters Pack INH Flat Race.
As a half-sister to leading Cheltenham novice hurdle hope, On The Blind Side, by Gold Well, Well Set Up is bred to stay well.
But it appears that the Jean Corrigan owned and bred five-year-old has that much sought after combination of speed and stamina, after the 20/1 shot demolished her eight rivals.
Pre-race this was all about the Mullins French import Harrie (2/5), but he and the rest had no answer to Well Set Up's change of gear from a furlong and a half out.
Trained by Mark Fahey and ridden by Richie Deegan, the market outsider came home with eleven lengths and three parts of a length in hand over Harrie and Dorydalis (5/2 second favourite).
"I'm surprised, to be honest with you, on that ground. She goes well at home and I thought coming here the ground might catch her out but that she would come on for the experience," explained Fahey.
"She was green the whole way and then she got between a few horses up the straight and she ran on and won well. Richie (Deegan) gave her a brilliant ride.
"She won pretty decisively. She is very well-bred - she is a half sister to Nicky Henderson's horse, On The Blind Side. She looks like she is going to have a good future too."
When asked if she was for sale, he replied: "We don't know. The owner will go home and have a think about it and it's a good tonic for Jean's partner Des. He wasn't well for a while."
He added: "We think a lot of her. Good ground is the key to her. We will probably put her way now and if she's not sold, she will be put away for those festival bumpers in Aintree or something like that."
(MG & EM)
