Naas review 19th Jan

Noel Meade was full of praise for stable jockey Paul Carberry, who returned after an enforced spell on the sidelines to give Oscar Looby a peach of a ride to land the feature Grade 2 Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase at Naas yesterday. Meade said; “Paul’s a class jockey isn’t he, he has given him an absolutely fantastic ride, just sitting in and letting the other two boys go at it up front, and we’ve missed that. It’s been great to have Davy Condon to step in for Paul as he’s been riding out of his skin, and in a way they’re quite similar.”
Oscar Looby (4/1) jumped brilliantly to beat disappointing 4/5 favourite Alpha Ridge by three lengths with Telenor a distant third on ground described by Carberry as “almost unraceable, there’s that much depth in it.” Meade has the Ten Up Chase in Navan next month as Oscar Looby’s next target and also nominated the Irish National as a possible long term option.
The biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Oliver Brady’s Ebadiyan, who rallied gamely in the final strides to deny Noel Meade’s Muirhead by a short head to win the Listed Limestone Lad Hurdle at 9/1. Afterwards, the crowds gathered around the winner’s enclosure to enjoy a typical Oscar winning performance from Monaghan’s finest, and a jubilant Brady identified three Cheltenham Festival targets for his tough grey. First preference will be the Champion Hurdle, where he was quoted by Victor Chandler at 66/1. Other targets include the Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the Coral Cup.
Elsewhere on the card, Galway Plate hero Ballyholland (6/1) showed his well being ahead of a tilt at the Grand National as he landed the 2 mile novice hurdle in fine style under Ruby Walsh, and trainer Colm McBratney was understandably delighted with his charge. Boylesports cut the winner from 50/1 to 40/1 for the Aintree showpiece and McBratney said; “The National dream is still alive. He surprised me the way he quickened up and travelled so well, and Ruby said the hurdles were only getting in his way. We’ll have another run over hurdles before the National and take it from there.”
In the opening maiden hurdle, Liam Burke’s Case Study justified some solid market support to win at 7/1, staying on powerfully up the hill under Davy Russell to win by six lengths from odds-on favourite Cadspeed with Hellyhunter in third. Picking it up from long time leader Stress turning in, Case Study quickened up nicely to win going away for owner Michael O’ Leary.
Four Chimney’s, who won twice at Limerick over the Christmas, made it a hat-trick of handicap hurdle wins when running out a four and a half length winner under top-weight for Willie Austin and Andrew Lynch, with Peak Raider in second.
Mighty Bob continued his love affair with the track, making all under the talented Conor Maxwell to beat Bemo Two by seven lengths. Mighty Bob is trainer Ger Farrell’s only horse in training, and Farrell was understandably delighted with the performance. He said; “That was great. He loves it around here, and goes on any ground, we’ll aim him at something similar next time out.”