WEXFORD REPORT: FIVEFORTHREE BARELY came out of a canter yesterday as he scored in Wexford's Richard Browne and Sons Ltd Hurdle on his eagerly-awaited seasonal bow.
Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival but failed to hit the target in two subsequent quick-fire outings at Punchestown.
A back problem kept him off the track until this two-mile event but he was sent off the 4 to 9 favourite to oblige on his return.
Ruby Walsh’s mount duly obliged in the manner of an odds-on chance, pushing on from the second-last to cruise home by seven lengths from the fast-finishing Splurge.
“The plan is to go for the two-and-a-half-miler at Aintree and possibly then go to Punchestown after that,” said a delighted Mullins.
“That is the plan at the moment. He’s had some training problems but he has done everything right at home since he has been back in serious work.
“He worked well at Leopardstown in the pre-Cheltenham gallops and that showed today.”
William Hill make Fiveforthree a 16 to 1 chance for next year’s RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
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