Champion Bumper next up for Nathans Pride

The Peter Fahey trained Nathans Pride (5/2 into 7/4 favourite on track) made an impressive debut in the bumper at Thurles this evening, the Littleton INH Flat Race.

The 5yo son of Definite Article is a brother to seven time winning stablemate Pride Of the Artic, who won a Grade 3 novice chase at Tipperary last October.

Ridden by the trainer’s nephew, Mark Fahey, he raced in mid-division for much of the contest before making headway under two furlongs out.

He came with his run on the rail up the home straight and he was second a furlong out before he hit the front in the final 100 yards, keeping on well in the closing stages to win comfortably by a length. Stoney hit the front a furlong out but had no answer when headed and he had to settle for second under Johnny King for Dessie Hughes at 7/1 while Fetter Lane ran a cracker to finish just three lengths back in third at 33/1 under John Barry.

Peter Fahey said afterwards: "He is a very, very, very good horse and we had loads of confidence coming here today.

"Some of his work at home has been unbelievable. He worked at Leopardstown before Cheltenham and was giving away weight to horses and worked every bit as good as them if not better.

"He will go for the Champion Bumper now at Punchestown. I’m not sure whether he will be sold but his (unraced) brother is going to the Derby Sale."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes