Minella Hollow and Johnny Barry pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Minella Hollow impressively made it two from two in the concluding Racing Here Again On 2nd July (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
Won by subsequent dual Grade 1 winner A Dream To Share in 2022, the John Nallen-trained victor showed enough to suggest he too could reach similar heights.
Successful on debut at Ballinrobe last month, the Beat Hollow bay proved easy-to-back this evening and was sent off a 10/3 chance (drifted from 9/4) under Johnny Barry.
Settled in second behind the 6/5 favourite Churchfield Sunset the winner came with his challenge early in the straight and was pushed along to lead with over a furlong to go.
Despite showing signs of greenness inside the final furlong, he readily increased his advantage and came home six-lengths to the good.
The aforementioned Emmet Mullins-trained market leader had to settle for second under John Gleeson, while Stuart Crawford's Dramatic Licence (8/1 from 16s) was a length-and-a-quarter back in third.
"He's a nice horse. I don't know what way he'll go now, the horse that won this bumper a couple of years ago (A Dream To Share) went on to do a big thing. We'll dream too!" said Nallen.
"Johnny said he was like a car going from 0-60 but when he hit the 60 he was green.
"He had missed the beat all along. He got a cut in the lorry one day and was behind all the rest of them, that's how he ended up going this way.
"We've always thought a good lot of him and he's by a lucky sire.”
When asked if he could be for sale he added: "Nobody wanted him after the last day, nobody was asking where we were going with him. We'll see, it might be harder to buy him now!
"We'll bring him home and see and hopefully he's alright in the morning and then we'll see what we do.
"I'd imagine we'll give him a bit of a break now. He's not hard on himself, he doesn't take anything out of himself and grubs. He didn't miss a beat since the last day.
"There might be a race in Galway for him and then Leopardstown and then maybe go for the big one. Maybe Seanie (Bowen) could ride him in the big one if we go that way next spring. We can dream.
"He worked with Cristal Clere the other morning, who is rated 93 on the Flat, so you know from that where you're going with him.
"He does jump as well, he's a rapid jumper. If somebody wants him bad enough he's there.
"I thought he would have been a horse for America and I tried last week but there wasn't anyone for him. We'll see how we go, we have him anyway."
STEWARDS REPORT
Mr F. Maguire, rider of Miss Lia trained by P.J. Rothwell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that he lost his reigns turning in but recovered them as quick as possible.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
