Improving Son Of Ocovango Lands Rated Novice Hurdle

The progressive Barnacullia (4g Ocovango - For Lena, by Turtle Island) produced a smart performance to land the Rated Novice Chase at Wexford on Monday.

An impressive course and distance winner last month, Michael Mulvany’s charge went on to finish a fine fifth in a valuable hurdle at Listowel and was sent off second favourite for the Rated Novice Hurdle.

Chasing the leaders under Jordan Gainford, he made smooth headway into second approaching the penultimate flight and led soon after. Ridden when challenged, he kept on strongly to assert the advantage on the run-in and scored by three lengths on the line.

“I'm very happy with him and he is improving all of the time,” the winning trainer later commented. “We think he is an nice horse and he is a great chasing prospect. We've schooled him over fences and he jumps well.”

Barnacullia is owned by the Clearys Syndicate and was bred by Maurice O’Brien.