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Ferny Hole made a triumphant return from over two years on the sidelines with a dominant show within the Newlands Chase at Naas – however seems unlikely to be seen in motion at subsequent month’s Cheltenham Competition.
It’s quick approaching 4 years because the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old carried the Cheveley Park Stud colors to success within the Champion Bumper on the showpiece assembly within the Cotswolds and accidents had restricted him to simply three subsequent appearances.
He made a successful hurdling debut at Gowran Park the next season, however was then off the monitor for over a yr, and whereas he made a clean transition to leaping fences following his comeback with successive wins, together with a Grade One at Leopardstown in December 2021, he had not been seen since.
Regardless of his 791-day absence, Ferny Hole was a 2-5 favorite for this Grade Three project, and in reality odds-on backers could have had few issues all through the two-mile contest.
Paul Townend’s mount raced exuberantly and jumped neatly in the primary and moved ominously into the wing mirrors of the three horses in entrance of him from the house flip.
As soon as angled out into clear daylight, the Westerner gelding quickly swept to the lead and solely needed to be pushed out after safely negotiating the ultimate impediment to seal a snug five-and-a-half-length verdict.
Mullins mentioned: “I used to be pleased with him to do this after such a protracted lay-off. Hopefully, now he stays sound in order that we are able to preserve him that approach.
Paul Townend celebrates on board Ferny Hole after victory at Leopardstown
“He popped over a couple of hurdles and some fences yesterday morning and I used to be pleased with him. The circumstances of this race suited him a bit higher than final week [Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park].
“I feel he is nonetheless younger sufficient to place in a profession greatest over fences. He simply has to beat this primary run and are available again sound and we’ll see the place we go.”
Coral minimize Ferny Hole to 8-1 from 12-1 of their non-runner a refund marketplace for the Queen Mom Champion Chase at Cheltenham, however with that race solely 17 days away, Mullins is ready to maintain his powder dry for the opposite main festivals within the spring.
“He is entered in Cheltenham. It might be a giant ask on his second run, however we’ll take a look. It might come a bit quickly,” he added.
“He settled beautiful and although he is free going, as soon as you agree him in, he listens and responds to you. We had been joyful to make use of these techniques and hoped that if he obtained round protected and sound that he’d be the quickest horse within the straight, which he was.
“It will likely be all about how he comes out of the race within the subsequent week, and we’ll in all probability search for simpler choices in the intervening time.”
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