Ballyholland begins Aintree preparations

Galway Plate winner Ballyholland returned to the racecourse with a bang at Naas today, making a winning hurdles debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Irish Racing Writers Novice Hurdle.

Ridden by Andrew McNamara to win the Galway feature, Ruby Walsh was in the somewhat unusual position of proving the super-sub on Ballyholland, which was originally to be ridden by Paddy Flood (unwell).

McNamara, on 5/4 favourite Luska Lad received a heavy fall at the third last flight and, although he never lost consciousness, was subsequently removed to Naas Hospital with slight neck pain.

Following Ballyholland's win, his trainer Colin McBratney later reported “Ruby said he showed plenty of speed today and the hurdles were only getting in his way, and he'd need fences to be at his best.”

He added “he'll have one more hurdle run before a tilt at the Aintree National. His stamina is an unknown, and if he crosses the Melling Road with a jockey on his back, his stamina will be in the lap of the Gods!”