Son Of Walk In The Park Takes Grade 3 Feature

Monty’s Star (6g Walk In The Park - Tempest Belle, by Glacial Storm) earned himself a tilt at the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle when staying on well to win the Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday.

The son of Walk In The Park caught the eye on last month’s hurdle debut, when finishing well to take second and was expected to appreciate the step up to three miles at Clonmel. Racing prominently under Seam Flanagan, the Henry de Bromhead-trained bay was asked to quicken from two out and was ridden to lead on the run-in. He stayed on well to beat the favourite, a Grade 3 winner last time out, by half a length.

“I'm delighted with that,” De Bromhead said after the race. “He’s a big, big horse and has taken a long time. You'd hope he will continue to improve and he has the size and scope of a chaser. He is in the Albert Bartlett and I imagine that is where he will go next.”

De Bromhead and owner Barry Moloney won the 2017 running of the Grade 3 with Monty’s Star’s half-brother Monalee (Milan), who went on to finish second in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett, but later won at Grade 1 level over fences.

Monty’s Star was bought privately by connections after finishing second in two four-year-old maidens for Colin Bowe. The son of Walk In The Park was bred by Aidan Aherne and is a full-brother to bumper winner Firm Footings (Walk In The Park), who won his maiden hurdle on Sunday.