Ollie La Ba Ba (orange) © Photo Healy Racing
Third over course and distance in June, Ollie La Ba Ba (7/2) went two places better in the Plus 2 Print Remembering Tony Oakes MBE Maiden Hurdle.
Trained by Eoin McCarthy for Sean Maguire, the Champs Elysees gelding led from early but looked vulnerable as market leader River Tara moved into his slipstream between the final two flights. It was the Gary Noonan-partnered winner who found most up the hill, though, and he pulled clear to account for River Tara by six lengths.
With the trainer leading up, jockey Gary Noonan commented: "He stays very well and his last run here the last day was very good. He got hampered in the home straight and I think he would have gone close the last day.
"I was confident coming here off the back of that run.
"I kept it simple and I knew my lad was fit and would stay. I just let him roll away in front and Paul's horse (Townend, River Tara) came to me up the straight and he found another gear and quickened up well to the line.
"He was second to Black Bamboo (in Cork) early in his career and had a good run here the last day.
"I think he is a three-mile chaser in the making."
Quotes from Michael Graham
