Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Western wins on flat debut
Donal Murphy
Western wins on flat debut
Western Boy (nearest) is driven out by Fran Berry to beat Alguazil
© Photo Healy Racing
The Pat Fahy trained Western Boy took the opener at Killarney, the Ladbrokes Ireland Maiden, on his flat debut.
Better known for his exploits over obstacles the son of Antonius Pius opened on-course at 11/4 before drifting out to 7/2 at the off.
Settled in mid-division he was sixth with a circuit to race as Alguazil attempted to make all under Joseph O'Brien.
The JP McManus owned victor was pushed along in seventh entering the straight but he made good headway on the outer from two furlongs out.
He went in pursuit of Alguazil from the furlong pole and got to the front over 100 yards out, keeping on well from there to score by three parts of a length under Fran Berry.
The John Murphy trained Alguazil, who was sent off the well-backed 9/4 favourite (from 7/2 on-course), had to settle for second while Regal Beauty (20/1) was three lengths back in third under Shane Foley for Ken Condon.
Pat Fahy said afterwards: "I'm delighted to get it as things didn't go right for him over fences and he ended up clouting them and was similar over hurdles.
"We said we'd try him back on the flat and it's great he has won. I'm hoping to go for the Galway Hurdle next but I'm not sure whether he'll get in - if he doesn't there's a 0-140 handicap hurdle there for him instead."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes