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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Horizon off the mark over timber

Thu 31st Mar 2022, 14:24

Celestial Horizon and Mark Walsh jump the last to win Celestial Horizon and Mark Walsh jump the last to win
© Photo Healy Racing

Celestial Horizon justified favouritism in the opener at Naas this afternoon when opening his account over hurdles.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding was a solid 11/8 market leader in the two-mile maiden hurdle and tracked the leaders, on the rail, under Mark Walsh.

He jumped up to challenge at the penultimate flight and hit the lead on the run to the last.

The JP McManus-owned son of Galileo galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-half length winning margin. Evergreen And Red got up late on to deny Douglas Dc the runner-up spot.

The winner was dropping back into maiden company having been fifth in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last month.

Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said:- “He was workmanlike but he got the job done. He liked the bit of nice ground.

“He thinks about it a little bit but the hurdles keep him interested.

“He stays well and we’ll find a handicap for him down the road. He’ll keep going over the summer.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.