Peter Fahey targets Cheltenham in November for teak-tough Ambitious Fellow

Saturday: Listowel

Peter Fahey is plotting a Grade 2 bid at Cheltenham in November for strong-staying novice hurdle winner Ambitious Fellow, who defied joint-top weight to score under a determined Sam Ewing.

An attractive series of races in Britain could be on the cards for the OGB Partnership-owned six-year-old considering he will remain a novice over hurdles for the entire British season due to the timing of his first win over hurdles at this year's Punchestown festival, whereas his novice status expires in Ireland later this year.

It looked as though the 100-30 shot was in trouble when hitting 49-1 in running on Betfair, but he rallied gamely to overhaul 5-2 favourite Nos Na Gaoithe by a head.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer is now targeting the Grade 2 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle on November 11, a race he won with stable stalwart Peregrine Run in 2016.

Peregrine Run: winner of the Cheltenham Grade 2 in 2016Credit: Edward Whitaker

Fahey said: "He has great form and was unlucky [when brought down] at the Galway festival, with the rain also coming. We had four winners there but I thought he was the one horse who would win.

"He has plenty of experience and the trip of two miles and five furlongs at Cheltenham in November would suit him. Once the ground goes soft he'll get a break."

A good afternoon at Listowel for Fahey got even better 35 minutes later when Skippin Court, owned by the Dexys Midnight Runners Syndicate, survived a stewards' inquiry to land the 2m4f handicap hurdle under Kevin Sexton.

'He's my Sprinter Sacre'

Edward O'Grady looks to have a useful novice in 2m maiden hurdle winner Rumi, who scored readily by eight lengths under Rachael Blackmore on his first start since switching from the Harry and Roger Charlton yard.

The imposing four-year-old, whose sole Flat win in Britain came off a mark of 65, is viewed by O'Grady as a bright prospect to go chasing later.

Edward O'Grady: excited about new recruit Rumi after maiden hurdle winCredit: Patrick McCann

O'Grady said: "I'm delighted because Rachael said he rode very raw for a horse who had run on the Flat. He's 17 hands and she felt he rode like a point-to-pointer.

"I think he's my Sprinter Sacre. I'm so looking forward to him jumping a fence because he'd go through a brick wall. I haven't made a plan yet but I think he'll be thereabouts for the novice season."

Praise for Listowel

In-form trainer Denis Hogan had his fourth winner in as many days when landing the concluding bumper of the 2022 harvest festival with smart five-year-old Thecompanysergeant, who collected as 11-10 favourite under John Gleeson.

Hogan was keen to pay tribute to the efforts of the Listowel committee during the seven-day festival.

"I have to thank Listowel for the top-class ground and the way they've looked after everyone all week," said Hogan.

"The lads in the new stable yard got free food, as was the case in the weighing room, and owners were raving about how well they were looked after.

"The atmosphere around the track was brilliant and there have been big crowds all week. Listowel are putting bigger racecourses to shame with these crowds."

The official attendance of 11,053 on the final day was a record for a Saturday at the meeting, up from the last comparable pre-pandemic figure of 9,547 in 2019.

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