Smart Newcomer Kicks Off Successful Weekend For Getaway

Get Sky High (5m Getaway - Tell Me Emma, by Beneficial) provided Denis Murphy with a perfect start to the weekend when making a winning debut in Saturday’s Mares’ Maiden at Ballycrystal.

Undeterred by the driving rain, the chesnut caught the eye with six fences left to jump and improved to lead at the penultimate fence. Always in command, she scored by a length and a half from the more experienced Res Judicata.

Get Sky High was bred by Patrick Kelly out of an unraced full-sister to Scottish Grand National third Mister Marker.

Getaway’s successful weekend continued with a Sunday double at Wexford, where Gibberwell (4g Getaway - Unique Snoopy, by Witness Box) built on a promising hurdle debut to take the Hook Head Maiden Hurdle.

Second over three miles last month, the Brian Jordan-trained bay dropped back to two and a half miles and was ridden to track the leader by JJ Slevin. Improving to dispute from three out, he was ridden to lead after the second last and soon led, keeping on strongly to deny the favourite Mr Jackman (Flemensfirth) by a length and three quarters on the line.

Speaking after the race, Slevin commented, “He had a good run in a maiden the last day and his bumper runs were decent. He has improved away and is a grand horse.”

Owned by William Bates, Gibberwell was bred by Parkville Stud out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winning chaser Snoopy Loopy.

Later that afternoon, the James Dullea-trained Cailin Dearg (5m Getaway - Lepidina, by Oscar) stayed on strongly to win the mares’ bumper.

Tracking the leader under Darragh Allen, the chesnut gained the advantage five furlongs out and was four lengths clear three furlongs from home. Ridden from two out, the chesnut stayed on strongly to hold off Patty D by a length on the line.

James Dullea looks forward to sending his winner over hurdles, saying, “She found more when they came at her and she toughed it out. She is a really nice mare to look forward to over hurdles.”

The Padraig Butler-owned mare also won a point-to-point in March and is the best performer bred by Miss R Tonson Rue out of the Oscar mare Lepidina.