Nearly Nama'd© Photo Healy Racing
Austin Leahy has one definite runner and another possible for next month's Dublin Racing Festival as his J.P. McManus owned Nearly Nama'd chases more Graded glory, following his latest win in a valuable handicap chase at Fairyhouse in December.
The then nine year old landed his third Graded handicap chase win in the Grade B EasyFix Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse and Leahy has the son of Millenary entered for the similarly classified Sandyford Handicap Chase on the Saturday of the Dublin Racing Festival,
Leahy says “he definitely runs and it has been the plan since he won at Fairyhouse. The ground then was often better, but the form of the race has worked out amazingly well. The second (De Benno) won a valuable handicap chase at Limerick over Christmas while Anibale Fly (ninth placed) and Doctor Phoenix (tenth) were others who both won big handicaps since.
“He has come out of the race well and I'm hoping he'll run well.”
Leahy has another Leoparstown possible with his highly rated, once-raced four year old Killacolla.
He adds “I was delighted with the way Killacolla ran when finishing second on his debut at Naas (January 7). He'll be entered for Leopardstown but mightn't go; that bumper used to be for four year olds-only but is now open to all ages and he might go back to Naas instead in a couple of weeks.
“He's a fine big horse, 16.3hh, and is a very good jumper but I'm hoping someone else finds that out!
I'd obviously love to keep him in the yard though as he is a proper horse.
“I bred him myself and he is the first foal from a dam who cost E110,000 as a yearling.”
