Hiddenvalley Lake puts in a good jump at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Henry de Bromhead's Hiddenvalley Lake took some notable scalps as he reverted to flights in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle in Navan.
He signed off last season with ninth in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival and reappeared in a beginners' chase at this track in December, but fell three out.
The switch back to hurdles was well received by the market as he was backed down to 3/1 favourite. Blazing Khal who won this race last year, was a major drifter on his return to action as he went off 4/1 from 7/4. He was pulled up after weakening out of contention approaching the straight. Ashdale Bob was challenged by Hiddenvalley Lake over two out with Beacon Edge and Da Capo Glory in close attendance.
Darragh O'Keeffe then sent Hiddenvalley Lake for home approaching the last and a lovely jump saw him land in stride. He soon had three to four lengths in hand on the pursuers and was driven out to win by three and a-quarter lengths.
Beacon Edge kept on gamely for second at 16/5 having been backed down from 13/2. Da Capo Glory (6/1) came in third in a bunch finish for the places.
Stable representative Robbie Power said: “It was a good performance. The plan was obviously to go chasing with him this year and he fell here in a beginners' chase before Christmas.
“It took him a little bit of time to recover after that, and it was getting a bit late in the season, so we thought we'd come back over hurdles and then probably go chasing next season.
“He's done plenty of schooling back over hurdles and Henry's done a lot of work with him. He's a very good jumper of a fence and was just unfortunate the last day.
“He loves heavy ground and Darragh said the further he went the better he jumped. When they stepped on the pace, he jumped better up the straight.
“We knew he'd stay well over that trip and that ground probably suited him as well. It's great to get that and we'll see where we go next.
“He stays three miles as well and we'll have a look at all the big festivals coming up and see what the options are.
“He's a fresh horse, he's only had the two runs and that's his first completed run this season.”
Hiddenvalley Lake was previously a winner at Grade 3 level over hurdles at Cork in December 2022.
Afterwards, Blazing Khal was reported by the vet to be clinically abnormal.
Trainer Charles Byrnes said: “He's not right, I think he has a fibrillating heart.
“We've had a bad rocky road with him, but we'll see.”
The Raceday Stewards interviewed J.W. Kennedy, rider of Beacon Edge, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that his mount was responding but accepted he was in breach of the whip regulation. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards found J.W. Kennedy in breach of Reg.10.3(g) and having taken his record into account suspended him for four race days.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
