Boldog wins opening race of 2024

Boldog (5/1) was the first winner of the new year today, landing Tramore's David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle to provide his trainer Joseph O'Brien with a second such festive winner.

O'Brien's Intellotto won a Leopardstown maiden hurdle on December 27 and today Boldog, whose Derby-winning sire Authorized has returned from Turkey to stand at Kilkenny's Capital Stud this year, raced keenly before readily beating Gorgeous Tom

Winning jockey J.J. Slevin said “he settled fine until halfway down the back straight - when he took off. It was going to be hard for him to win doing that but he stuck it out well.

“He coped well with the ground and his bumper runs were decent last year. He will be a stayer.

“Joseph is having a great season with his jumpers, and it’s nice to have this one for Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede). Daryl (Jacob, their retained rider) is in Cheltenham today so I’m lucky to step in.”

Southwell racecourse had been scheduled to stage the opening race of 2024, with an 11.54am start-time, but their abandonment left Tramore to begin first, at noon.

Quotes from Donal Murphy