Helvic Dream (right) beating Broome in the Tattersalls Gold Cup© Photo Healy Racing
Helvic Dream is set to make his eagerly awaited hurdling debut at Fairyhouse on Saturday in the Kettles Country House Hotel Supporting Fingal Ravens GFC Raceday Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old gelding is a rare Group 1 winner on the Flat to try his hand over hurdles having provided trainer Noel Meade with his first top level Flat victory when landing the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in 2021.
The son of Power recently recorded a fifth career win also at the Curragh in the mile and a half Tote Amateur Derby and connections now feel the time is right for the currently 105-rated Flat performer to make the transition to hurdling.
“He runs on Saturday all going well and Sam (Ewing) rides him,” said Meade at Dundalk yesterday afternoon.
“He's settled at home jumping and Finn (Tegetmeier) has done a great job on him - he’s riding him all the time.
“Sam has been in schooling him and he's jumped well for him. He's stayed relaxed and we were happy with the way he worked.
“I'm sure it will take a run or two for it to sink in because we're going to have to drop him in to get him to relax. It's one helluva good maiden hurdle.
“We were going to do it before (go jumping) but he just wouldn't relax. In his old age he's starting to get a little bit more relaxed and he's in good form.”
There are 63 entries for the two-mile event at the five-day stage including highly regarded bumper winners Ballyburn and Firefox.
Quotes by Gary Carson
