Bog Warrior and Davy Russell© Photo Healy Racing
Drinmore Chase winner Bog Warrior got his season back on track with an effortless win when justifying 1/5 favouritism in the four runner BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Novice Chase at Naas today.
Ridden by Davy Russell, the son of Strategic Choice made all and was clear before the straight, eventually staying on strongly to easily defeat principal danger Slieveardagh by 11 lengths.
Stan James Bookmakers subsequently cut Bog Warrior to 14/1 (from 16s) for the Arkle Chase and to 8/1 (from 10s) for the Jewson Novice Chase, both at the Cheltenham Festival.
Afterwards winning trainer Tony Martin did issue a warning about Bog Warrior’s Cheltenham participation this season, saying “I wouldn’t be adverse to missing Cheltenham this season as he is definitely a winter ground horse.”
“It was a relief to win - we were gutted at Christmas with what happened (fell at Leopardstown). He had been jumping so well up to that and it’s good to get that out of the way with and get him back winning.
“He got a fair scare at Christmas and it knocked him for a bit. He started back the right way but I don’t know where he goes now. He is a horse who I wouldn’t subject to running on good ground, he has a real round action.”
