War Of Attrition overcame a three months injury lay-off by taking the BBA Ireland Opera Hat Novice Chase in great style at Naas on Saturday, and is now one of the leading fancies for the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham.
The Mouse Morris-trained gelding, narrowly beaten by Brave Inca in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Festival last year, suffered a slight chip in a splint bone after a successful chasing debut at Thurles in November. 'I couldn't ask for any more than he did today,' said a delighted Morris after the six-year-old headed the front-running Old Flame between the final two fences and came home full of running under Conor O'Dwyer to beat Healy's Pub by an effortless four lengths.
'He's been off for six weeks and back in work for just six weeks. He gives an exhibition of jumping and that is on ground that I was very nearly going to take him out in,' added Morris. Ladbrokes make him their 6/1 (from 12's) joint favourite for the 'Arkle' along with Ulaan Baatar, although Cashmans were less impressed cutting him from 14/1 to 10/1.
The running and riding of Waki Baki, well beaten in seventh, attracted the attention of the stewards with trainer Arthur Moore fined 1,000 euro for using the racecourse as a training ground and rider Barry Cash suspended for seven days for making insufficient effort. The six-year-old gelding has been banned from racing for 42 days.
The Noel Meade yard has been under a cloud since Christmas, and the champion trainer saddled his first winner in five weeks when Captain Sunshine landed a gamble - 3/1 to 6/4 favourite - in the two and a half miles maiden hurdle. A clearly relieved Meade said, 'This horse worked very well the other day, and if he hadn't run well I don't know what we would have done.'
'Last season around the same time the horses got the flu but it's totally different this time. They have no temperature, they are eating well and look fine but just running flat. All the blood tests and scopes have been very good this week so hopefully they are back on track again.'
Pom Flyer was all the rage in the opening maiden hurdle, and the 13/8 favourite delivered for punters in fine style. Kevin Coleman (19) partnered his 13th winner as the gelding cruised to the front before the last, and was just shaken up to beat Ponmeoath by three lengths. 'He will go for a winners race and jumps well, so he should make a nice chaser next year,' said Francis Flood, who also revealed that Georges Girl has been retired to stud and is likely to visit the stallion Milan.
Wexford restricted trainer Moses McCabe saddled his first winner when Red Fern finally came good in the two miles and three furlongs handicap hurdle. The half-sister to Sir Rembrandt led before three out, and kept on strongly on the far rail for Martin Ferris to beat Slyguff Rory by four lengths.
Le Frere recorded his second win this term in the two miles handicap chase, prominent throughout for John Cullen and clear in the straight to beat Goodonyou-Polly by twelve lengths. Alberoni and Oh So Lively drew clear from two out in the two and a half miles handicap chase, with the former getting on top in the closing stages for Mark Walsh to score by three and a half lengths.
Alan Magee
