Son Of Yeats Impresses On Hurdle Debut

Here Comes Johny (5g Yeats - Strike An Ark, by Shernazar) made an impressive start to his hurdle career when running out a clear winner of Friday’s Maiden Hurdle at Fakenham.

Successful between the flags for Alan Ahern, the bay made a promising start for Foxtrot Racing and Olly Murphy last month when finishing second in a bumper at Market Rasen. He was sent off favourite for Friday’s two and a half mile contest and tracked the leaders under Aidan Coleman, cruising into second approaching the second last. Asserting before the final flight, he soon went clear and won by 11 lengths, the field strung out behind him.

Bred by Brendan Cawley, Here Comes Johny is a full-brother to dual winner Allora Yeats and comes from the family of Grand National winner Don’t Push It.

The following day at Stratford, The Bull McCabe (6g Yeats - Twilight View, by Lord Americo) built on a fine second on his seasonal return to win the two mile and six furlong maiden hurdle.

Narrowly beaten last month, the Kim Bailey-trained bay was sent off favourite on his latest start and raced prominently throughout under David Bass. Asserting before the third last, he went clear approaching the final flight and was eased close home to win by nine lengths.

Previously a winner of a point-to-point for Brian Jordan, The Bull McCabe was bred by Thomas Ward.