Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LAUNCH PADD
Elliott’s new charge is ready for take-off
PARK PADDOCKS is a hopeful nap choice in today’s opener in Fairyhouse, where racing hinges on a 7.30am inspection, due to the threat of frost.
Formerly trained by William Haggas, this Sea The Stars gelding ended his time in England when beaten by Rolling Maul, better known as a staying chaser, in a Bath maiden in June.
Bought for 35,000 Guineas at the July Sales, Park Paddocks made an encouraging start over hurdles for new trainer Gordon Elliott at Naas recently, holding every chance in the straight, recovering from a mistake at the second last flight before fading to finish fifth behind Sayo.
Beaten little more than nine lengths, the Gigginstown-owned gelding is entitled to improve and, with a first-time hood to help him settle better, Jack Kennedy’s mount should be tough to beat, with Noel Meade’s, inset, hurdling debutant Free Ranger, runner-up three times on the flat for Jim Bolger, likely to be his biggest threat.
Joseph O’brien has found a good opportunity for four-year-old Apparition in the
Fairyhouse On
Twitter Rated
Novice Hurdle.
The 116rated Dream
Ahead gelding had earlier pipped subsequent multiple winner Mitchouka at
Thurles before running creditably behind prolific winner winner of the Grade 2 John Espoir D’allen (flopped on Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle at Sunday) at Down Royal. Gowran Park last time, Percy Returning after a break and has raced only three times over the mount of J J Slevin, Apparition fences. And Kelly had intended and fellow four-year-old running him in Sunday’s Randalls Ur Poet have obvious marathon to give him more claims, in receipt of weight experience. from their older rivals But, instead, Kelly is planning most notably top-weight a return to Gowran Park with Monotype. the seven-year-old as final Meanwhile, Pat Kelly preparation for Cheltenham – has decided against Presenting Percy will run in the running RSA Grade 2 Red Mills Chase on Chase favourite Saturday week, February 17. Presenting Kelly and owner Philip Percy in Sunday’s Reynolds will be represented by 2016 Pertemps winner Mall Dini Boylesports in Sunday’s National Trial, in National which recent Thyestes winner Trial Monbeg Notorious, one of six Handicap Elliott-trained acceptors, is set Chase in to shoulder top-weight in a field Punchestown. which will also include last Convincing year’s winner Baie Des Iles.