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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Ferris gets a sweet tune out of O Maonlai

Sat 1st Feb 2014, 14:48

Martin Ferris and Timmy Hyde discuss the victory of O MaonlaiMartin Ferris and Timmy Hyde discuss the victory of O Maonlai
© Photo Healy Racing

Timmy Hyde views O Maonlai as a nice chasing prospect but that’s all in the future as the strapping son of Oscar added to a Punchestown bumper winner by taking the 25-runner two-mile maiden hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding was patiently ridden by Martin Ferris to lead at the penultimate flight, at which point chief market rival Dantes Firth came under pressure and dropped away.

The well-backed 6/4 favourite asserted well before the last hurdle, which he met all wrong, and was driven out on the run-in for a convincing five lengths verdict.

The always prominent Black Spot On took the runner-up berth, with Black Zero another six lengths away in third.

Hyde said, “He’s a fine big chaser. I don’t know where we’ll go now but he’ll make a fine chaser one day. You’d be a little bit worried with any horse on that ground.

“He was a bit disappointing in Mallow but to be fair I think I left him a bit short as he blew hard afterwards. He’s very well bred and is from the family of a lot of good hurdlers like Gaye Brief.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.