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Orgilgo baying for glory

Eventual winner Hawk High ridden by Brian hughes (left) gets up to beat Orgilgo Bay ridden by Mark Bolger at Cheltenham
Image: Orgilgo Bay: Big targets

Trainer John McConnell has already earmarked next summer's Galway Hurdle as a potential long-term target for Orgilgo Bay following his excellent run in defeat at Ballybrit last week.

Trainer John McConnell has already earmarked next summer's Galway Hurdle as a potential long-term target for Orgilgo Bay following his excellent run in defeat at Ballybrit last week.

Placed in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in the spring, the four-year-old looked likely to emerge victorious in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle, but was mowed down late by Maxim Gorky.

McConnell was pleased with how his charge performed in defeat and is confident there are plenty of good days ahead.

"We were delighted with how he ran. It's hard to be disappointed when they get so close to winning," said the trainer.

"When I walked the course the day after, on the Saturday, I was amazed how uphill it is from the bend to the line and I could understand how he got beaten.

"Things just conspired against him with the rain coming and then he got taken on up front by a couple of horses. They probably cut their own throats to a certain extent.

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"The two who took him on finished out with the washing, so he did well to keep going as well as he did.

"There are lots of possibilities for him going forward. We might go back on the Flat with him or there is a four-year-old only hurdle in Listowel in September.

"It would be nice to think next year he could be going for a big handicap like the County Hurdle in Cheltenham next March or the Galway Hurdle in a year's time ."

Meanwhile, McConnell is considering ambitious future targets for Galway Festival winner Clonard Street, despite receiving interest from abroad for the exciting youngster.

The Archipenko colt was pitched into what looked a strong maiden on his racecourse debut, with runners from the powerhouse yards of Aidan O'Brien, Dermot Weld and Mick Halford in opposition.

However, despite showing signs of inexperience, Clonard Street knuckled down well to make a winning start by half a length from Prologue.

McConnell hopes he will be able to keep hold of his colt long enough to run him in some of the better two-year-old races later in the year.

The County Meath handler said: "We were delighted with him and we thought he was a nice horse, but he's the sort of horse who will only win a gallop by as far as he won the race the other day, so you're never too sure what you've got.

"The runner-up is a fair marker as he'd already had three runs, so it was a good performance from our horse to go and beat him first time out.

"The time of the race was exceptionally quick, despite the rain-softened ground. I'm not mad on times, but it was the only race of the day that dipped under standard, so that has to be encouraging, especially as he jumped the path during the race.

"We've had lots of inquiries and it's ongoing. The owners don't need to sell, but if the right offer came along I suppose any horse is for sale.

"There has been interest from Hong Kong and places like that. We'd be delighted to keep him, but if he does get sold, it would be good business.

"At the moment we're just training him as though he's staying and we'll see where we end up.

"There aren't really any winner's races or novice races for him in Ireland.

"There is the Group Three at Leopardstown on Irish Champions weekend that Australia won last year and then there's the Beresford at the Curragh a couple of weeks later.

"There is also a Listed race in Haydock in early September, so those are the three races we're looking at."

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