Champion Bumper hero The Mourne Rambler was made to pull out all the stops to make a winning start to his career over hurdles at Naas.
While Noel Meade’s five-year-old had some experience of jumping from the point-to-point field, he was make his competitive debut over obstacles in the Cavan Developments Supporting St Marys GAA Maiden Hurdle and was prohibitive odds at 1-4 in the hands of Sam Ewing.
Winner of the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March before having to make do with the runner-up spot at Punchestown the following month, The Mourne Rambler jumped well in the main, but it was clear between the final two flights he had a real fight on his hands.
An untidy leap at the last did him no favours, but to his credit he kept galloping on the run-in to get up and score by half a length from Whisky Lads, with Ignite The Moment just a head further behind in third.
“When you have a lad like that it’s always a bit of a worry coming out the first time,” said Meade. “I was worried about the ground being a bit quick and worried about how he’d jump and worried about me getting sick! I was a bit revved up about him.
“He jumped brilliant, which was great, other than the last. Sam said he let him into the bottom of the last because he thought he was going to pick them up. He said he raced very lazy and only when he went for him did he pick up.”
With Meade of the opinion that his charge is now in need of a sterner stamina test, he looks set for a step up in trip on his next start.
“I thought watching it that two-and-a-half (miles) is going to suit better than two and Sam thought the same thing,” the Tu Va handler added.
“Initially I had thought that he’d probably go for the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse but I think now we’ll probably go two-and-a-half somewhere, wherever that will be.
“He’s a lovely horse. He actually grew about two inches over the summer, it was quite amazing. He filled out and got heavier.
“I hope we’ll have a bit of luck with him now and he keeps going on forward. We know he has ability so if we can keep him sound and keep going, it will be all systems go towards the end of the season.
“Navan has the Monksfield next week so that’s too soon and the next suitable race on Navan after that is over two miles. We’ll have a look and see where the next two-and-a-half-mile race is. I suppose we’ll probably have to think about (the Grade One) here on January 10.”
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