Irish Grade 2 hurdles victory for nine-year-old mare.
Another four winners for Kayf Tara in the last week were led by the Pat Fahy-trained Aunt Nora, who won the 2m4f G2 Mares’ Novice Chase at Thurles on 14 January.
Bred by Fintan Kealy, the nine-year-old half-sister to Pierse Hurdle winner Dromlease Express didn’t make her debut under rules until she was seven but has subsequently won three races over hurdles and fences.
Aunt Nora was one of three Kayf Tara-sired winners in Ireland this week, in company with seven-year-old Edwulf, who won Saturday’s maiden hurdle at Naas for JP McManus and Aidan O’Brien, while Pride Of The Braid followed up on Sunday with victory over hurdles at Leopardstown for owner/breeders Liam and Brian Gleeson.
One of the most popular victories of the week in England came at warwick on Saturday when Flintham, a full-brother to Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers and half-brother to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Coneygree, demonstrated he has grit and stamina in abundance with a hard-fought front-running win in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle. His triumph over the 3m2f rain-sodden course guarantees him a place in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
Like his illustrious siblings, Flintham, now seven, was bred by the late Lord Oaksey from the former TBA National Hunt Broodmare of the Year, Plaid Maid (Executive Perk).
Kayf Tara’s banner season to date has produced 70 winners of 96 races from 257 runners for a strike-rate of 27% – one point ahead of Presenting, who is the only active sire ahead of him in the National Hunt stallion table for Britain and Ireland.
