Atkinson: Irish Roe can go the whole hog
IRISH roe is largely trained around the fields of a North Yorkshire pig farm and has more than 150 sows as neighbours — but she could pull off one of racing’s greatest giant-killings if she can win saturday’s Betfair hurdle at Newbury.
Champion trainer Nicky henderson will have up to five runners in the £155,000 contest but Irish roe, a bargain €2,000 buy with seven wins from 11 races, is the star of Peter Atkinson’s three-horse string.
The 10-1 shot, ridden by henry Brooke, is disputing favouritism after being only narrowly beaten by a higher-rated rival in a Grade Two hurdle at Doncaster last month.
Irish roe can still race off her old handicap mark but has been raised 9lb to suggest she has a significant edge. Atkinson hands the credit for training Irish roe to wife Lucinda.
he said: ‘We bought two horses on the same day. The one I picked (reverant Cust, who has one win from 13 runs) has not turned out to be as good as the one Lucinda picked, as she always reminds me! Irish roe is only small. I think that put a few people off her. The pre-sale veterinary examination also suggested she had a breathing issue, but there was nothing wrong with her.
‘she always looked like she had an engine and she is still very low mileage. I’ve probably ridden her only about six times. Lucinda does all the work. she trains her around the fields but we can go to the gallops at Middleham at the weekend. she also does a lot of lunging with her.’
henderson’s Newbury party will include 2017 Arkle Novices’ Chase winner Altior. his season has been derailed by a breathing problem but he is poised for a seasonal debut in the Game spirit Chase.