Tommy Carberry yesterday raised the intriguing possibility of his Grand National hero Bobbyjo returning to Liverpool in April with a preparation consisting of nothing but hurdle races.
The trainer was speaking after Bobbyjo ran ninth in Fairyhouse's Teal Handicap Hurdle, his first racecourse start in nine months.
"Happy enough. He got a bit of a blow anyway," was Carberry's verdict following Bobbyjo's effort which saw him lead the field to three quarters of a mile from home and only fall away at the third last flight. The race was won by the Tony Martin trained Banreme.
"The ground was testing enough for him. It was tacky and he doesn't like that. That's why we don't run him over fences on that ground as it would just tear the heart out of him," Carberry reported after consulting with his son Philip who rode the National winner yesterday.
Carberry Snr said another run over hurdles is next on Bobbyjo's agenda and added: "The ground will have to improve for him to race over fences and it wouldn't bother me if he didn't have a run over fences before the National. But I was happy with him today. He was keen enough even if he didn't like the ground."
Banreme ran out a comfortable enough one length winner over the favourite Belle Star and was an appropriate Meath-trained winner on the day the Minister for Agriculture Joe Walsh officially opened the new £9.5 million facilities that include a new stand, new parade ring and weigh-room.
Tony Martin wasn't slow doubling up because half an hour later Fandango De Chassy got favourite backers back on the right track when justifying Adrian Maguire's flying trip home in the handicap chase.
Fandango De Chassy and Florida Light settled down to a rare old skirmish in the straight but the 12 lb. weight difference began to tell on the run from the last and Maguire got the winner home by three and a half lengths.
Lawz justified 11 to 10 favouritism in easy fashion in the maiden hurdle but the stewards attention afterwards was on the horse who finished second last, Walls Lough.
At the start Barry Cash's mount could be seen leaving the infield collecting area onto the track just as the rest of the field were being left go by the starter Joe Banahan. Walls Lough appeared to lose almost 200 yards to the others and his chance was gone.
Banahan accepted responsibility and said he did not see Walls Lough when he started the race. The stewards also interviewed the course foreman Noel Fanning but decided they were not satisfied with the procedures and referred the matter to the Turf Club for further investigation.
The 2 to 5 favourite Sheltering duly landed the hunters chase from Spot Thedifference but he had to work harder than might have been expected to hold the runner up by four lengths. Sheltering remains an ante-post 3 to 1 second favourite to Castle Mane for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham.
It was day to remember for 20-year-old Paul Wade from Loughrea, Co Galway, who rode his first winner on Great Days in the mares maiden hurdle. The Dessie Hughes trained winner had far too many guns for the favourite Have At It in the closing stages after settling well in the early stages.
The favourite Sallie's Girl could only finish third to the Cork-trained Copper Supreme in the Tatts mares series chase and Donal Coffey's winner may travel to Uttoxeter in March for the series final while Triswell rallied again under a strong John Cullen drive to overhaul Fifth Imp in the bumper.
