Mine Now (nose band) is about to strike the front on the home bend© Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Mine Now can make their travel plans for Cheltenham in March after the Peter Fahey-trained gelding landed the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Qualifier at Leopardstown.
The first six finishers in this three-mile stamina test are eligible to run in the Final of the series at the Cheltenham Festival, and the nine-year-old gelding just held on here in an exciting finish.
Richie Deegan ’s mount travelled well to lead off the home bend and soon asserted.
However the 33/1 chance was strongly pressed by A Great View who came from a long way back early in the straight, in the closing stages and just held on by a short-head. Glenloe was seven and a half lengths adrift in third, with Turbojet in fourth.
Fahey said, “He deserves it as we were just nicked for a big pot in Galway. You can put a line through his last run as I went back too soon with him. He needs to run fresh as he’s a small little horse and he puts everything into his runs.
“We’ve had a great year, our best ever, and it’s all down to everyone at home as we have great staff. I’m delighted for Richie and taking 7lb off is a great help.
“When we have a chance of going to Cheltenham we might as well go, and that will probably be his next run. He has plenty of pace to travel well in those races. I was always worrying about three miles with him but the dryer ground definitely helped.”
Deegan said, “Peter just said to me there 'what's with all the photo finishes! I said to myself going out that I had been beat staying on the last two days so I wanted to make a little bit more use of him.
“I didn't plan on being in front that soon but at the second last a couple just missed it and one fell. I just landed there. In fairness to the horse he was tough and was just pricking his ears. When Mark came he went on again. He was just idling a bit but there was nice ground on the rail.
“I won a point-to-point on him for the owners, when Aidan Fitzgerald was training him, and in fairness they left me on him. Even when I got beat on him they still left me on him.”
When asked if the owners would be keen on a trip to Cheltenham now Deegan responded:- “I'd be keener!”
Betfair make Mine Now a 33/1 chance for the Final at Cheltenham, with A Great View at 25/1, while Paddy Power go 40/1 Mine Now.
(GC & AM)
