Exciting Novice Hurdler Emerges For Walk In The Park

The future looks bright for Butch Cassidy (4g Walk In The Park – Fair Ina, by Taipan) after winning what looked a red-hot maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday.

The €140,000 store sale buy won a bumper on debut, but Saturday’s competition included a Land Rover Bumper winner, €300,000 purchase and well-regarded four-year-old maiden winner. He was sent off joint second-favourite on his hurdle bow, with Darragh O’Keeffe taking the ride on the bay’s first start for Henry de Bromhead.

Racing prominently throughout, he began a sustained duel with the favourite from two out, the pair rallying neck and neck to the line, where Butch Cassidy led by half a length. The aforementioned point-to-point winner Shuffle The Deck (Walk In The Park) stayed on well in third, 15 lengths clear of the remainder.

“He’s a lovely big horse and a real chaser in the making,” said the winning trainer. “He has loads of size and scope and he gallops. He’s big and raw and we felt whatever he did today, that he’d improve.”

The unbeaten Walk In The Park gelding is owned by Mrs John Magnier and bred by Paramount Farms.