Minella Hollow overcomes greenness to make winning debut

Minella Hollow made a winning start to his racecourse career when overcoming greenness to land the concluding QuinnBet INH Flat Race at Ballinrobe.

The only four-year-old in the field, the John Nallen trained gelding has a decent pedigree, being related to three winners.

Held up by Johnny Barry on the first circuit, the gelding travelled well in fifth over two furlongs out, in a race of changing fortunes.

The Gordon Elliott trained Gers Gigi headed Artic Piper turning into the straight, before the latter battled back strongly on the inside rail. All the while, Barry was getting closer on Minella Hollow, sweeping past the pair over 200 yards out.

Despite showing obvious signs of greenness in hanging to his right, the Nallen trained winner stayed on nicely to prevail by three-and-three-quarter lengths.

John Nallen said "We didn't point-to-point him because he wasn't robust enough. We came for safe ground and a nice track. He's a quality horse and would win a maiden on the Flat.

"He's only been away once and was green. We'll give him a bit of time now and he'll be out in the field tomorrow.

"We intended to run him here yesterday but missed the declarations for the four-year-old bumper, but it was all for luck anyway!"