Classy Walk In The Park Mare Draws Clear In Maiden Hurdle

Friday saw Graded performer Jetara (5m Walk In The Park - Jelan, by Milan) gain a deserved win over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

The Jessica Harrington-trained mare won a Listed bumper before placing on her first two starts over hurdles, including at Grade 3 level, last season. She was sent off a deserving favourite for the mares’ maiden hurdle over two and a half miles and was travelling best when leading before the second last. Soon clear, she needed little encouragement to score by 16 lengths from a strung-out field.

Gerard McGrath’s homebred is the first foal out of Jelan (Milan), herself a winning full-sister to the top-class Jezki (Milan).

Walk In The Park was responsible for another smart winner shortly afterward at Ascot, where the Harry Fry-trained Beat The Bat (5g Walk In The Park - Dani Salamanca, by Presenting) came out on top in the maiden hurdle.

Successful on his second start in a bumper last season, the Kevin McCarthy-owned bay was headed close home by black-type performer Masaccio on his hurdle debut last month. Reunited with Jonathan Burke on Friday, he made headway form three out and led before the second last. Challenged soon after by point-to-point winner Welcom To Cartries, he dug deep on the run-in to score by a head, with the pair rallying 15 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

“They were two lovely horses pulling a long way clear,” said the winning trainer. “Beat The Bat is progressing and will have learnt more today. I love the way he came alive turning in and then he really knuckled down to beat another really nice prospect.”