WESTERN LEADER continued his rise through the ranks with a hugely impressive success in the Grade Two Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles yesterday.
The 4 to 1 chance was sent straight to the head of affairs by Conor O’Farrell and had many of his rivals in trouble as the pace increased heading down the back straight.
Premier Victory was his nearest pursuer turning for home but Western Leader soon engaged overdrive and after safely negotiating the final flight, John Hanlon’s charge was ridden out to score by 12 lengths.
Hanlon clearly rates the winner highly. He said: “That’s three Grade Two’s now in six weeks (two for Luska Lad) so we’re not going too bad. He was very good there and he’ll probably now go to Aintree for the two-and-a-half or three-miler. He’d stay forever. He’d handle better ground too and I always thought he was better than Luska Lad. He’ll go chasing next season.”
Charlie Swan does not want the ground too testing for Oodachee and Offshore Account in the Carrickmines Handicap Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.
The Co Tipperary trainer will wait close to final declaration time today before deciding whether to run the two horses, who hold entries in the Grand National at Aintree in April.
“I am going to see what the ground is like and make up my mind tomorrow morning,” said Swan. “They don’t want it too soft, but they’re in good form and I’m very happy with the both of them.
“They’re in the National but if they don’t get in that they will still go to Aintree for the Topham.”
Kieren Fallon will have only his second ever ride in next month’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper on the Noel Glynn-trained Old McDonald. The six-times champion jockey rode Jonjo O’Neill’s Refinement to finish fourth behind Missed That at the Cheltenham Festival in 2005 and will return to Prestbury Park on March 17th.
Old McDonald opened his account at the third attempt at Ludlow in December and Glynn is delighted to have secured Fallon’s services.
“We are from the same parish in Co Clare and Kieren was a neighbour of mine, so I decided to get him booked and I couldn’t have got much better,” said Glynn.
“This is a good horse and he won nicely at Ludlow last time. The time before he was second to Tavern Times at Fairyhouse and was maybe a bit unlucky.
“Tavern Times is one of the favourites for the Champion Bumper and I’d like to think we’ll be wherever he is. Whether it will be just in front of him or just behind him I don’t know, hopefully in front.
“This year I’ll hopefully have Old McDonald and Becauseicouldntsee, who will hopefully run in the four-miler (National Hunt Chase) on the same day. Hopefully it will be great day and as an owner and a trainer, Cheltenham is what you dream about.”
Meanwhile, a decision has yet to be made on whether Mikael D’Haguenet makes an eagerly-awaited return to action this weekend. Last season’s crack novice hurdler is set to embark on a career over fences and according to his trainer Willie Mullins at Thurles yesterday “he jumped well and worked fine” after racing at Fairyhouse on Wednesday yesterday.
Unbeaten in six starts since joining Mullins from France, the six-year-old is in the Trim Beginners Chase at Navan on Saturday and the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase at Leopardstown the following day. He was last seen winning at Punchestown in May and has Cheltenham Festival engagements in the two-mile Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase and the RSA Chase over three miles.
