Orgilgo Bay seen 'dancing' in at Ballinrobe last August© Photo Healy Racing
Orgilgo Bay third in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham, returns to action at Ballinrobe on Tuesday in the P & D Lydon Plant Hire Rated Hurdle.
Trainer John McConnell feels his four-year-old would have given Hawk High even more to think about if he had settled in the early stages at the Festival. As it was, he was beaten two and a half lengths and returns to a track at which he was successful on the Flat.
He does not have an easy task, though, with Willie Mullins' Noble Inn and Charlie Swan's progressive Getoutwhenyoucan among an eight-runner field.
"He came out of Cheltenham well. We were delighted with his run there but we wished he had settled. If he had settled, he would have gone very close," said McConnell.
"We were thinking of what might have been. We think we have him settled now, hopefully, and that is the key to him, to get him relaxed.
"He won on the Flat at Ballinrobe so the track will be no problem. It is a little bit softer there than the rest of the country but that shouldn't be a problem to him either. We are hopeful, as it is a tight race. Charlie Swan's horse is on a roll, and Noble Inn is a very solid horse, and there are another couple in it with solid form, so there is not much in it." Cheap As Chips goes for the hat-trick in the Treacy's Pharmacy Handicap Chase, while Zemario is worth noting as he returns to obstacles in the Ladies Day June 24th Maiden Hurdle.
Farandooney gained a narrow victory on the level at Dundalk when last seen and attempts build on that success over jumps in the Connacht Spring Show May 18th Handicap Hurdle. Rodeo Rocket and Carrow Queen take part in a wide-open Hollymount Nursing Home Handicap Hurdle, and Mr Cosmopolitan strives to put a Navan tumble behind him in the Killeen Sports Grounds Beginners Chase.
Point-to-point winner Sir Abbot showed an abundance of promise at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting and now tackles a bumper in the Connaught Telegraph INH Flat Race.
