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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Castle Oliver gets O'Brien off and running in new year

Tue 1st Jan 2019, 16:16

Grey horse Castle Oliver gets up close homeGrey horse Castle Oliver gets up close home
© Photo Healy Racing

After a rough passage, Castle Oliver (5/2) swooped late to take the bumper in Fairyhouse by a neck for Joseph O'Brien and Derek O'Connor.

He got badly squeezed for room between horses approaching the home turn and soon came under a drive in sixth from O'Connor.

He still had plenty to do in the final quarter of a mile but responded to O'Connor's urgings to put a sustained challenge together and get up in the final strides. Chef Afef had to settle for second at 12/1, a short head in front of fellow 12/1 shot Battle Of Midway

Joseph O’Brien said: “He’s a lovely big horse and had a nice run first time out. We thought he’d come a bit from that and it was nice to see him go win his bumper.

“He won’t be spending too long in bumpers. He’s a stayer. They went slow and then they got a rush of blood, and Derek came back at them late.

“I don’t know if he’ll run again and we might have him go novice hurdling next year.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.