Nearly Nama'd and Barry Geraghty© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Sandra Hughes followed up last season's Irish Grand National win with Thunder And Roses with her second Grade A winner at Fairyhouse today as her J.P. McManus owned Nearly Nama'd landed the E100,000 Underwriting Exchange Dan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase.
Ridden by McManus' retained first jockey Barry Geraghty the son of Millenary went clear of stablemate Guitar Pete from the second last fence and in the end battled well for a four and a half lengths win over Mozoltov with Guitar Pete finishing third.
Nearly Nama'd won a Grade B chase over course and distance last month and following today's win, delighted Hughes stated “that was great and he's improving. The trip was right, he's a great jumper and he loves that ground.
“He's a lot stronger than last year and Barry (Geraghty) said he noticed a big difference in him from the last time he rode him.
“He needs that soft ground as he wasn't handling the ground in the summer so we let him off.
“Guitar Pete (third) ran fantastically and I'm delighted with him. There is room for improvement with him.
“I wouldn't discount going to Cheltenham for something with him (Guitar Pete) but I'd like to win somewhere before that.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
