Dalasiri lands major gamble in juvenile hudle

Dalasiri landed the first big gamble of 2013 when smashed on track from 33/1 into 9/2 before taking the McCarthy Insurance Group Maiden Hurdle for four-year-olds in fine style.

Trained by Sabrina Harty for her mother Margaret, the Aga Khan-bred grey showed little on debut in a similar event at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting but was ridden alot more prominently here.

Andrew Lynch sent the Dylan Thomas gelding to the front four out, and had his rivals all well stretched early in the straight in beating the staying on Faanan Aldaar (20/1) by two and three quarter lengths.

The pair drew 11 lengths clear of Spot The Pro (7/1) in third, while 6/4 favourite One Fine Day never really got a blow in finishing fourth.

Ms Harty said, “We felt at home that he had a good turn of foot and we dropped him in at Leopardstown. He was just staying on when he made two mistakes.

“But his jumping is as slick as you get. I ride him myself and schooled him as well.

“We got him from John Oxx’s as a two-year-old in the Horses In Training Sale. We were going to go the bumper route but he schooled like a handicapper recently and we knew he’d come on a tonne for the run at Leopardstown.

“He’s beautifully made with a great head and no hang up’s, and we’ve always thought a lot of him. Today was the plan but he should make a nice dual purpose horse. If he’s sold I’d like to still train him.”

Stan James, who went 100/1 about Dalasiri for the Cork race this morning, have introduced him at 25/1 for the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes