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John O'Riordan

John O'Riordan

Bruno delivers knockout blow on hurdling debut

Sat 8th Jul 2023, 17:58

Encanto Bruno and Ben Harvey win the Bar One Racing Maiden Hurdle for John McConnell Encanto Bruno and Ben Harvey win the Bar One Racing Maiden Hurdle for John McConnell
© Photo Healy Racing

Encanto Bruno made a very impressive hurdling debut when making all the running to easily dismiss his rivals in the Bar One Racing Price Boosts All Channels Maiden Hurdle at Bellewstown.

A former point-to-point winner, the John McConnell trained five-year-old won his first two starts in bumpers before finishing down the field in the Cheltenham equivalent in March. On that occasion, he was far from disgraced, finishing a respectable 11th of 21 runners.

Making his reappearance after a 115-day break, the Mahler gelding was sent straight into the lead under jockey Ben Harvey and was never headed. Stretching clear of his rivals inside the final half-mile, he could even afford the luxury of a novicey jump at the second last before regaining momentum to run out an easy 13 length winner.

John McConnell said: "He is good. He is running at the wrong trip there but Derek (Kierans, owner) is back from America for a couple of weeks and this is his local.

"It was the target for a long time and we thought his class would get him through even though he is going to be a two and a half to three mile horse.

"It was a long one or a short one (two out) and they went long, he was really, really good to do that first time up.

"We get these point-to-pointers and they are so well schooled - Colin Motherway today and the Crawfords with Kinbara yesterday - they are push button really. I just have to not mess it up!

"We never had him right the whole winter/spring, he didn't eat well and it wasn't ulcers as we treated him for ulcers. I switched his stable and he was a different horse in three or four days, he was eating and was just a happier horse.

"He has got a lot more weight on him today - he's not a gross horse, he's quite a light-framed horse and a big, big engine.

"He'd be similar to my other ones, he will probably have another couple of runs before November. He's not a winter heavy- ground Navan horse, have a little break and hopefully come back for the festivals if he is good enough. You would be hopeful (he is good enough)."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.