CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: O’BRIEN AND SLEVIN ENJOY ANOTHER SUCCESS IN BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE
Tuesday 12th March
It was five years ago that trainer Joseph O’Brien and jockey JJ Slevin combined for success in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the due were again on the mark in the same contest in 2024 with Lark In The Mornin.
Joseph O’Brien said: “We were very worried about the rain, as we had a pretty strong view that he wanted better ground to be seen to best effect, but I thought that ‘JJ’ gave him a fantastic ride and found the best of the ground all the way around. He had plenty in the locker jumping the last, then pricked his ears.
“We thought that he was coming here with a real live chance, but so much rain fell last night that we had a conversation about whether we’d run or not. Luckily we did, and he seemed to handle it.
“I’m delighted for Sean, for Paddy and for Bernadine, and for JJ to have a winner here this week. It’s very special.”
JJ Slevin said: “Obviously he kind of got stuck in the ground at home all winter and probably didn’t perform to his best, so we were worried coming here. But I got a spin around on Colonel Mustard earlier and thought it didn’t ride as bad as it walked. We had to let him take his chance after that.
“Joseph did say to me, ‘be patient and maybe try to grab some fresh ground’, which is what I tried to do.
“Joseph has plenty of quality in his yard and he does a good job with them [his fairly small team of jumpers], so when he has the right one, he sends them over.
“I thought the chase track rode slower than the hurdle track, so we just have to hope [ahead of Bambridge’s run in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday] that it doesn’t rain too much.”
Tom Harney, rider of the runner-up Eagles Reign: “He hit a flat spot after the third-last - he always does hit a flat spot about four furlongs out and keeps finding; it’s just unfortunate that JJ [Slevin] was travelling so well! But look, I’m delighted for JJ, he’s the nicest guy in the weighing-room. I would have loved to have won it, but it was some thrill coming up that hill today. We’ll be back.
“He usually makes it and he loves looking around and travelling away. When he’s behind he doesn’t travel as well, but I was happy enough to bide my time. His jumping kept him in it. I couldn’t believe it when he started to pick up round the bend - I thought for a second we might get it!”
Ross O’Sullivan, trainer of the runner-up Eagles Reign said: “Great run. The owner has been coming here for the past 15 years. He’s a horse who has surprised us all year, and he just said he’d love to have a runner here. He’s never had a runner here. He comes over with a bunch of pals every year, and to have his runner and to finish second, he’s on cloud nine - it’s as good as winning.
“He’s a progressive horse; he’s tough. He was only a cheap horse, didn’t cos
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 87y
1 Lark In The Mornin 9-1
2 Eagles Reign 80-1
3 Ndaawi 12-1
4 Harsh 40-1
3rd winner at The Festival for jockey JJ Slevin
4th winner at The Festival for trainer Joseph O’Brien
LATEST PRESTBURY CUP STANDINGS
Ireland 5
Great Britain 1
