Further chasing gains for O'Brien and Slevin

Following on from Anything Will Do’s win at Killarney yesterday Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin combined for another win over the larger obstacles at Kilbeggan this evening with High Sparrow delivering in the Racingtv.com Handicap Chase.

We hadn’t seen High Sparrow since February but well-treated in this sphere the chestnut went off a solid enough 11/4 market-leader for this stamina test.

The last was bypassed owing to the angle of the sun and Biddy The Boss soon put it to her rivals going a distance clear.

She came back to the field from before the final obstacle (usually two out) and eventually finished in rear. Napoleon Blue was the one to give High Sparrow most to do but the staying power of the winner is not in doubt and he kept up the gallop in the straight over this three mile one furlong trip. Six lengths was the winning margin.

“It was a good test of stamina. He was a good hurdler and probably had a bit in hand with his mark over fences,” said Slevin.

“He hadn’t run in a while but there is no fear on fitness coming out of that camp.”

Owing to the low lying sun, the Stewards granted permission for the omission of fence number 1 from this race.

The Stewards enquired into an incident in the back straight on the first circuit involving Red Jack ridden by D.J. O'Keeffe, Timiyan (USA), ridden by M.P. Walsh, Global Racing ridden by C.P. McNamara, Napoleon Blue, ridden by S.W. Flanagan and Father Jed ridden by D.E. Mullins where it appeared that interference may have occurred causing Timiyan to check on the rails.

Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were satisfied that the interference was accidental in nature as a result of general bunching and they therefore took no further action.

B.J. Cooper, rider of Kilkishen trained by John Joseph Hanlon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was struck into and pulled up.

J.M. Moore, rider of Quantatmental trained by Gavin Cromwell, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount clipped a heel following an incident in running.

(AM & EM)