Barry Geraghty recorded a double at Fairyhouse on Saturday, highlighted by the feature race victory of Delgany Royal in the Duggan Brothers Porterstown Handicap Chase.
The Dessie Hughes-trained gelding led after two out to beat the front-running Cregg House by seven lengths, and has the Martell Grand National as a long term aim. 'He will go next for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown, but was bought initially with the Grand National in mind. He didn't get into the race last season, and hopefully can get a run at Aintree this time,' said Hughes.
Geraghty was also successful in the opener with Ballyhampshire Boy making an impressive hurdling debut in the Ashbourne Maiden Hurdle. The former winning pointer, trained in Co Waterford by Sean Aherne, was prominent throughout and stayed on strongly in the straight to beat Scottish Memories by 11 lengths.
Gary Hutchinson (21) recorded his biggest success todate when getting True Blue Victory up close home to beat Adamant Approach by a head in the Ladbroke Racing Handicap Hurdle.
Monaghan handler Oliver Brady was in typically vocal form after Balapour got up in the final stride for Joey Elliott to touch off Well Fella in the Fairyhouse Juvenile Hurdle. 'Its Leopardstown at Christmas (Denny Juvenile Hurdle), and then on to Cheltenham for the Triumph Hurdle,' said Brady, although Cashmans quote the Kahyasi gelding at 66/1 for the later event.
Youlneverwalkalone was sent off the 4/6 favourite on his first attempt over fences in the Blanchardstown Centre, but Christy Roche's charge could make no impression in the straight when beaten ten lengths by Topacio. 'He is not entered for the Denny Chase, and will go next for a winners race,' said trainer Pat Hughes. Roche said afterwards that he was 'very disappointed' but still intends to aim the seven-year-old at the Dennys.
Alan Magee
