Ambition has Power dreaming of Cheltenham

Burning Ambition continued his progression through the ranks, as he ran out an easy winner of the Earl Of Harrington Memorial Maiden Hunters Chase.

Second on his debut at Ballinaboola in February, the Pierce Power trained six-year-old won his next four starts 'between the flags', with his latest success coming in an Open Lightweight contest are Moira earlier this month.

Making his racecourse debut this afternoon, the son of Scorpion was sent off a clear 4/6 favourite, providing Power and rider Rob James with their first track success.

Settled in mid-division, the bay victor took closer order from five out, and cruised to the front as they approached the second last.

He wasn't fluent at that obstacle, but it mattered little as he soon stretched clear, going on to score very easily by thirteen lengths.

The Iggy Madden trained Follow The Moon finished second at 16/1, while Senators Glory (33/1) was another two and three parts of a length back in third.

Power said afterwards: "Everything we've asked him to do this year, he's done. We said we'd come here instead of Down Royal (on the 26th) as it was a maiden.

"The dream is Cheltenham and he is now qualified but he'll have to get another run because he lacks experience going over there.

"He could run in the newly arranged Punchestown hunters chase next or else the winners' race at Thurles, but that is in three weeks time so he might go to Punchestown instead. If we're still in one piece, he'll rock on to Cheltenham then.

"My sister-in-law Alexandria Gardner originally owned him then the lads (Ed Tynan, Kieran MacLennan, Paul Shanahan and J.P. Magnier) got involved and fair play to them, they had left me do my own thing with him and have given him plenty time.

"Because he is such a big horse, we said we'd look after him and fair play to them, they have given him all the time he needed.

"I have 15 in at home, some pre-trainers and we are mainly a point-to-point yard and he is the only horse we have for the track. That's my first and Rob James' first racecourse winners.

"I'm 34 and have the license three years but haven't run many on the track yet. We'll keep doing what we're doing and we're a selling yard but any trainer in the country would be delighted to get horses like him and I'm very lucky to have owners like the lads.

"Rob is class and is the best young rider around - when Jamie (Codd) and Derek (O'Connor) call it a day, it will be up to the likes of him and Jimmy O'Rourke to take over."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes