Naturally Nimble (right) chases Willy De Houelle at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Naturally Nimble burst a Cheltenham bubble but inflated his own credentials today, defeating antepost Triumph Hurdle-favourite Willy De Houelle to land Fairyhouse's Grade 3 Bar One Racing "Price Boosts Across All Channels" Juvenile Hurdle, at odds of 33/1.
French import Willy De Houelle started 1/4 favourite for the six-runner race, with Naturally Nimble - whose owners Sean & Bernardine Mulryan won last year's Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap at Cheltenham with Lark In The Mornin, held up nicely off the pace.
Willy De Houelle travelled strongly for most of the race but Naturally Nimble made eye-catching late headway and while short of room approaching the second-last, the Richie Deegan-steered winner challenged at the last and scored readily by a length-and-a-half.
Both Deegan and Naturally Nimble's trainer Joseph O'Brien landed last year's renewal with subsequent Galway Hurdle winner Nurburgring and Deegan reported “Naturally Nimble disappointed us a little bit last week so we said we'd hunt around here and see. He did it well.
“They went a good gallop and the race probably fell apart a little bit in front of us and we were there to pick up the pieces. He stayed at it well.
“He was at a high level on the Flat so hopefully he can keep coming along. He wants that nice ground.”
Bookmakers introduced Naturally Nimble at 16/1 for next March's Triumph Hurdle while Willy De Houelle was pushed out to 16/1, from 6s this morning for the same race.
Quotes from Gary Carson
