Sparkling Stars (left) mounts his challenge at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Sparkling Stars well supported here on his first start for Limerick trainer Richard O’Brien and also his first outing in a handicap, showed the confidence wasn’t misplaced when landing the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Naas.
The former Eoin McCarthy-trained gelding was available at 16/1 this morning but was sent off at just 15/2 against 22 rivals in this two-mile event.
I Don’t Get It made a bold bid from the front and still held a healthy lead at the third last but that advantage was gradually eroded in the straight.
Shane O’Callaghan got Sparkling Stars to the front soon after the last and the giat grey gelding stayed on strongly to beat the front-runner by three lengths. Mastermind was just a head back in third with Whiskey Lullaby completing the places in fourth.
O'Brien said, “That's a lovely surprise. I only have him three weeks and to be fair he came in really beautiful shape from Eoin McCarthy, who I have to give massive credit to.
“I just cantered him and we thought it was a good idea to get him started. He's a horse that we thought was quite unexposed on his profile, that's his first run in a handicap, but I didn't think it was going to happen that quick.
“I thought Shane was terrific on him, he sat and sat and on that ground it worked very well.
“For a horse of his size the idea was to see if we could grab something over hurdles and then go jumping a fence. We've got that and we'll probably let him run again in three weeks over a little bit further.
“The lads from the Impulsive Dancer syndicate went to re-invest and we found him as a fun horse so it's a big thanks to them for supporting us to get him.”
(GC & AM)
