Fabulous Four Record Black Type Success
On Friday at Thurles Ard Abhainn kicked of another fruitful weekend
for Cheltenham sales graduates when forging clear to win the Listed Boreen
Belle Mares Novice Hurdle on the card for Gordon Elliott and Mrs Maura Gittins.
The daughter of Jeremy was pushed clear after the last to score by 3 lengths
under Davy Russell and her next run is likely to be the Mares Novice Hurdle at
the Cheltenham Festival. She was sold at last year’s Cheltenham Festival Sale
by Bernie Murphy for £80,000 after winning her Maiden point-to-point at the
first time of asking.
Mossy Fen stayed on strongly after the last to win the Grade 2
Leamington Novices’ Hurdle at Warwick on Saturday for Nigel Twiston-Davies and
owners Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott. A date at the Cheltenham Festival now awaits
the progressive son of Milan who was purchased for £60,000 at last year’s April
Sale from Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables after winning his four-year-old Maiden
point-to-point.
At Punchestown on Sunday graduates took the honours in both of the
Graded races on the card.
First up was Carefully Selected who made all in the hands of Paul
Townend to record a facile success in the Grade 3 Killiney Novice Chase for
Willie Mullins and Miss M A Masterson. The performance propelled him to the
head of the market for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after
his trainer nominated the race as his likely target. The son of Well Chosen was
purchased by Harold Kirk for £100,000 at the 2017 May Sale after winning his
Maiden point-to-point for Ted Walsh.
Andy Dufresne was made to work hard but got on top close home to
take the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle for the Gordon Elliott yard and
owner J P McManus. The son of Doyen won his sole start between the flags for
Camilla Sharples before being purchased for £330,000 at the 2018 Cheltenham
Festival Sale.
Entries are currently being selected for the Cheltenham January Sale
which will take place after racing on Festival Trials day on the 25th
of this month in the Owners & Trainers Marquee.