Band makes successful hurdling debut

Band Of Blood made a successful debut over hurdles as he ran out a comfortable winner of the opening race at Limerick this afternoon, the www.limerickraces.ie Maiden Hurdle.

The Philip Fenton trained son of King's Theatre won a point-to-point on his second start at Rathcannon in February of last year and he followed up in bumper on his second racecourse start at Thurles in February.

On his last start he finished fifth in a winners bumper behind Murtys Delight over the course in March and he was sent off the 2/1 favourite (opened at 7/2 this morning with Paddy Powers) for his debut over hurdles this afternoon.

Having chased the leaders for much of the contest he improved to challenge entering the straight and he hit the front on the run to the last before soon going clear, winning by four and a half lengths at the line under Brian O’Connell. Pumbaa finished in second at 10/3 under John Cullen for Sharon Dunphy while Zabana was just three parts of a length back in third under Robbie Colgan for Andrew Lynch at 12/1. Dawerann opened the 15/8 favourite with Paddy Powers this morning but he drifted on track out to 5/2 and he could only manage fifth under Adrian Heskin for Michael Hourigan.

Philip Fenton said afterwards: "That was a lovely run. I think he will be quite a nice horse.

"The drop of rain did him no harm. The ground was much better than when he ran in a winners bumper here, the ground didn't suit him that day.

"We will go again with him as long as the ground isn't fast and he might make a nice novice for the summer."

The winner was sold for €9,000 as a foal at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale in 2009 and was subsequently was sold for £75,000 as a three-year-old at the Doncaster Spring Stores Sale in May of 2011.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes