Abou Ben all set to swing back in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on 9th April
Fairyhouse is to become home for the Grade 2 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle over two miles on Monday, 9th April. Taking part in the contest is a lineup that comprises of eight runners for the purse that is worth €26, 000.
Among the lineup, an entry who has won the seasonal debut victory at Fairyhouse is Abou Ben, Beneficial’s ten-year-old bay gelding out of mare Sister Ruth. He won the Racegoer’s Package 25Euro Hurdle on 4th February over two miles.
Riding with P. Townend, Abou Ben led the runner up of the race, Darwins Fox, by just half a length. Thus the victory did not really come easy. The runner up was the 11/4 joint favourite of the race.
Settling third behind the winner was Maggie Connolly. The other joint favourite, Ballysteen, finished the race fifth behind the winner.
He won the final start of the 2011 season that was in the 2012 Navan Membership “The Ideal Christmas Gift” Maiden Hurdle on 19th December at Navan over two miles.
As if habitual of earning the victory each time, Abou Ben’s success was deeply threatened by the runner up, Its the Ice I Like, who was at a nose’s margin. Qualifying as the runner up was the 8/11 favourite of the race.
His second start of the season came as a disappointment with a fourth position in the www.racinghomeforeaster.com Hurdle at Cork over two miles and four furlongs on 22nd March.
The race being a lineup of five rendered Abou Ben as finishing second last behind the 9/4 favourite winner of the race, Oilily.
An impressive exit from the previous season and an encouraging beginning to the current one followed by an unfortunate ending in the second outing is reason enough for Abou Ben to bounce back into form and make the most out of the chance.
Nearly all the entries on the lineup have raced at Fairyhouse and there is one who won there during the last season and can pose challenge for Abou Ben. The lineup is versatile in a manner that there are some who have struck their seasonal debuts.
Abou Ben is practiced at winning races by a narrow margin so the competition level should not upset him.
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