Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- Home
- News
Donal Murphy
O'Keeffe excels on Bojak
Bojak is ridden out by Darragh O'Keeffe
© Photo Healy Racing
Under a never say die Darragh O'Keeffe ride, Bojak collared odds-on favourite Hypotenus in the opener at Cork, the Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden Hurdle.
The lesser fancied of two Henry de Bromhead trained runners in the line-up, the Benjamin Halsall-owned victor, who was a dual winner on the level in France, was sent off at 12/1.
With Ben Harvey and Hypotenus setting a strong pace from the front, O'Keeffe was content to settle his mount well off the gallop, jumping four out in a moderate fifth.
Closer in second from the next, he was ridden before the final flight and despite a sloppy jump there, he finished strongly, getting up in the final strides to prevail by half-a-length.
Returned at 1/2, Hypotenus had to settle for second, while Mercury Mission (9/1) was all of 31-lengths back in third under Shane Fitzgerald.
"He ran very well here first time out over hurdles and then I got the tactics wrong at Tramore when he ran too keen," de Bromhead commented.
"We said we'd drop him in today and see. I'd say the front few horses might have gone a bit too hard and the race fell apart in the end.
"He saw it out well and hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him.
"I'm delighted for Ben Halsall who owns him and claimed him in France."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes