Ferns Lock and Barry O Neill win the INHSC Tetratema Cup Hunters Steeplechase © Photo Healy Racing
Exciting young hunter chaser Ferns Lock kept his unbeaten record intact when running out an easy winner of the INHSC Supporting Point-To-Points Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase at Gowran Park.
With five wins from five starts prior to this afternoon, the David Christie trained six-year-old was sent off at 1/4f to add to that tally. Barry O'Neill sent the gelding into the lead from the outset and the partnership were never headed.
Potentially the best hunter chaser in the country, trainer Christie has elected to keep the horse at home this year as he lacks the experience for the Foxhunters at the festival.
Having built up a big lead midway through this race, O'Neill could afford to ease off turning into the straight but kicked on again once his rivals began to close. The eventual winning margin was no reflection if his superiority as he won eased up.
“At one or two on the far side he was having a look, he went to shorten and I think he actually stood on himself. I see he pulled a shoe,” said O'Neill.
“On that ground he's travelling away and he wants to get on with it a bit and you only want to be popping away.
“I've no doubt in a better race, going a better gallop, maybe you could take a lead and he'll be 100 percent.
“To be honest he's so far ahead of everything at the moment you are restricting him a little bit by sitting against him. I've no doubt going forward that he'll be fine.
“I actually got beat on him in a two runner race on his first run of the year, that was good work now!
“He seems to have everything. Everyone was talking about Cheltenham this year but myself and Dave had a good chat earlier in the year and it was just coming a year too soon.
“He's still only learning, that's only his sixth run. Next year with a good hunter chase campaign under his belt he'll be a force to be reckoned with, I think.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
