Bobbyjo is to continue his unorthodox preparation for a repeat win in the Martell Grand National after finishing unplaced over hurdles at Fairyhouse today.
The 10-year-old, ridden by trainer Tommy Carberry's younger son Philip, was ninth of 15 finishers to Banreme in the Teal Handicap Hurdle in his first race for nine months.
Carberry senior said: 'These races are always competitive and Bobbyjo had a good blow. He is going to take a few races to get him ready, but the tacky ground didn't suit him today.
'At the moment we will keep him to hurdling and indeed I wouldn't run him over fences in that type of ground because he wouldn't enjoy it.
'He will keep ticking over at home and running the odd hurdle race, but it wouldn't worry me if he didn't race over fences before we go back to Aintree which is still about three months away.'
Leading early on and still in with a chance early in the last mile, Bobbyjo gradually weakened in the tacky ground as Banreme followed up a recent course victory for the in-form Tony Martin stable.
Banreme and teenage claimer Joey Elliott held the favourite Belle Starr by a length to initiate a 15-1 plus double for the Tony Martin stable. Cottage Lord, ridden by Paul Carberry, was three-and-a-half lengths away third.
Locally born Adrian Maguire who has had an eventful, mostly successful week certainly earned his fee to get the Martin-trained Fandango De Chassy home by three-and-half lengths from Florida Light as they fought out a protracted duel.
'Fandango De Chassy deserved that win and Adrian knows him well. He takes plenty of driving but we might let him take his chance at Cheltenham in the four mile National Hunt Chase,' said Martin.
He reported Hollybank Buck none the worse off his disappointing run in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow late last month, and the horse could be back in Britain on February 5 for the Singer and Friedlander National Trial at Uttoxeter.
Favourite backers were also on the mark earlier in the session as the heavily-backed 11-10 shot Lawz gave leading trainer Pat Hughes his 33rd winner of the season in the Goosander Maiden Hurdle with victory by three-and-a-half lengths over the former Barry Hills-trained The Glow-Worm. -PA
