Third reserve Visionarian takes his chance in style Winning point-to-pointer Visionarian made a belated racecourse debut to take the Join Racing TV Now Maiden Hurdle (Div II) at Gowran in great style. Having missed three engagements in bumpers owing to unsuitable going, here Peter Fahey’s Visionarian got in from his position of third reserve, and Denis O’Regan took the reins. O’Regan will have enjoyed the spin as the Basil Holian-owned youngster jumped beautifully through the two miler. A big danger was eliminated when odds-on favourite Tullybeg ‘jammed on’ when in front, and unseated Jack Kennedy at the first. Tirmizi, the other fancied one, was then too keen in a clear lead. O’Regan had to give the former Colin Bowe-trained victor a bit of a shove to bridge the gap approaching the straight. The successful 11/4 second favourite was soon back on the bridle. He took over from two out and went on to account for 125/1 chance Mac Suibhne by thirteen lengths. That runner-up is trained in Galway by the Daniels-family, and winning owner Holian also resides in the western county. Holian is so well known in coursing circles with top greyhounds Watchman, Rumour Has It, Rith Gan Gaisce, Whimsical Lady, Adios Alonso, Bossa Nova Babe and Latest Trick. At 60K Visionarian looks to have been very well bought. P. Townend, rider of Tirmizi (FR) trained by M.Halford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran very free early on. (AM & EM)
