Ferns Lock wins hunters chase for Christie and O'Neill

Dual point-to-point winner Ferns Lock (9/4) won on racecourse debut today, landing Fairyhouse's INHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Hunters Chase for trainer David Christie and six-time champion point-to-point jockey Barry O'Neill.

The five year old son of Telescope had won two of his three previous point-to-points, at Lisronagh and Loughbrickland, and today defeated more experienced rivals, including dual hunter chase winner Its On The Line today's runner-up, by 12 lengths.

Afterwards Christie compared Ferns Lock to his last season's Cheltenham Open Hunters Chase runner-up Winged Leader, saying “he’s a very nice horse; normally I would like to take him up through the point-to-point ranks to learn, but the opportunity arose and we’ll work away at this game.

“Ray (Nicholas, owner) wanted a really nice hunter chaser, that’s what I went looking for and he has very similar traits and quality to Winged Leader.”

He added “he’s a big strong horse and does the same kind of things at home and his jumping is very good. Barry gave him a great education today and the nice thing about him is every time he’s ran he’s stepped up from it.

“Barry said he could have gone around again and he’s quite an exciting horse to have. He could turn up in a winners’ somewhere and maybe contest the Tetratema later in the season. I don’t want to overface him at this stage as he’s only five.

“That’s only his fourth run and fingers crossed we have years to work with him.”

Quotes from Alan Magee