Pizarro returned to racecourse action by landing prohibitive odds in the www.sugarcube.co.uk Hurdle at Down Royal yesterday, and is firmly back on track for the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The six-year-old gelding, winner of the Weatherby's Champion Bumper at the Festival last March but sidelined since disappointing at Navan in December, struck the front early in the straight and drew clear before the final flight to beat My Name's Not Bin by 20 lengths.
'I'm happy and relieved,' was trainer Edward O'Grady's immediate post-race reaction. He added, 'I was disappointed he could not run in the Deloitte & Touche at Leopardstown last Sunday but it would have been too big a step at his current level of fitness. If he does have another run before Cheltenham, then it will be in the Johnstown Novice Hurdle at Naas on February 23.'
Pizarro's Royal & SunAlliance price remained unchanged, with Cashmans going 8/1 and Graham's offering 6/1.
Memories of 1999 Martell Grand National hero Bobbyjo were very much to the fore after Kings Glen took the opening beginners chase for the father and son team of Tommy and Philip Carberry. 'Bobbyjo won his first chase here,' said Carberry senior after the same red and yellow silks were carried to victory with a stands side surge overhauling Kadoun in the closing stages.
Wexford handler Paul Nolan saddled a handicap double on the afternoon, with veteran Wyn Wan Soon easily taking the opportunity chase under Gary Hutchinson and Joseph Vernet staying on under pressure from John Cullen to take the two and a half mile hurdle.
Michael O'Brien also sent out a double with Banusal making all under Ruby Walsh in the maiden hurdle, and Denis Cullen partnering Away Home to take the bumper.
Alan Magee
