What a shot - Be Positive and Nina Carberry in full flow© Photo Healy Racing
A close relative of the great Moscow Flyer, Be Positive picked an opportune time to shed his maiden tag, when on outing number six, equipped with a first-time hood, he landed the Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memorial Chase, the opener of the Punchestown Festival.
Again Enda Bolger was the successful trainer in this three miler. Nina Carberry sported the J P McManus silks (the horse was bred by his wife Noreen) on the High Chaparral gelding and the 3/1 favourite was always well positioned. Enniskillen ran off a bend during this event and may have been unlucky not to have finished in the frame as he eventually came home in ninth.
Meanwhile Ma Chara was still there with his chance when falling two out but ultimately Be Positive stretched clear from before the last to come home a most authoritative eleven length scorer from another Bolger runner in Phar And Away
Enda Bolger remarked afterwards: "It was a good performance from a five-year-old. He loved that ground and he bounced off it.
"It was his first run over banks and he took to them well. He got a great ride from Nina.
"We're so fortunate to have her. We miss J T (McNamara) terrible and she learned so much from him.
"This horse gets a bit worked up and the hood did the job. His mother (Blooming Quick) is a full-sister to Moscow Flyer."
Looking to the future the Bruree handler said: "He's in again on Saturday and we might run him again.
"He's very ground dependent. He'll be a spring/summer horse and next year he could go chasing."
Mr G.M. Mangan, rider of The Mull trained by William J. McLernon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel and pulled up.
Mr J.T. Carroll, rider of Lord Hawkfield trained by J.P.Dempsey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount pulled up lame.
(GC & EM)
