Third-season novice gets off the mark

Error-prone third-season novice Antey won Limerick's Kilmallock Beginners Chase today on his first start of the new jumps season, scoring for trainer Willie Mullins, owner Rich Ricci and jockey Brian Hayes.

The eight year old began his chase career when ninth to Ricci's now retired Champion Hurdler Faugheen in November 2019 but subsequently fell twice, unseated rider once and was a blundering eighth-placed finisher in a valuable Punchestown handicap last month.

Rated 136, Antey today justified 2/5 favouritism in making all and jumping well to easily beat Hazran by five and a half lengths.

Hayes later commented "it was a nice schooling session for him I suppose and that might give him confidence going forwards. He was getting it easy in front and was never under pressure so it was easy for him to look good.

"Today suited as there was no one taking him on and we had an easy lead. He does have a good technique but when he is under a bit of pressure he can lose concentration.

"That'll get confidence from that and went on that (good) ground."