Abarta scores for O'Brien & Carberry

The 5yo Abarta took the Ballinrobe On Course Vets Handicap Hurdle for his trainer Val O'Brien with Paul Carberry in the saddle at the odds of 8/1.

The gelded son of Aboo Hom was having just his second start in handicap company today having finished sixth behind Adropaupep on his handicap debut at Galway last month.

Before that he had finished third in three maiden hurdles and was certainly not winning out of turn today.

Having chased the leaders early on he then closed in on the front runners two out and soon led. He was then joined into straight by the runner-up Masked Phantom (12/1) but he gained a narrow lead again at the last and stayed on best on the run-in to score by a length and a half. Mr Pernickety ran well to take third a further length and a half back at the odds of 12/1 under Eddie Power. Riotman and Never A Secret were sent to post the 5/1 joint favourite with the form finishing fifth and the latter pulling up.

Winning trainer Val O’Brien said afterwards: "He has been running well all along. While he likes soft ground I was wondering whether it was too soft for him.

"He will go for something similar next and probably have one more run before Galway (in late October). He will be kept on the go for the winter and will make a nice chaser as jumping is his strong point."