Progressive Pakens proves a big hit with local punters

THERE was only one horse on racegoers’ lips after the staging of an all-National Hunt card in testing conditions at Ballybrit on Tuesday.

It wasn’t just that the progressive Pakens Rock is locally owned and trained, but also the potential of the six-year-old which made short work  of a decent field from the front in the Faber Audiovisuals Novice Hurdle.

Trained by Barry Murphy in Clarinbridge and owned by former St Thomas’ hurler Ray Healy – his brother Vincent bred the horse – Pakens Rock was impressively following up last month’s course and distance win.

Well backed into 11/4 favourite, Kevin Brouder’s mount always travelled sweetly at the head of affairs, but the manner in which he stretched cleared from toiling rivals on meeting the rising grounds suggests that this is a ‘Galway horse’ going places.

With 11 lengths to spare at the line, Pakens Rock could now attempt a quick Ballybrit three-timer at the upcoming October Bank Holiday festival, while connections haven’t ruled out a trip to Cheltenham this side of Christmas either.

Owner Ray Healy was naturally in ebullient form after Pakens Rock’s third career win and jokingly asked the attending JP McManus would he buy the horse off him. “JP just said ‘wouldn’t you like to have a bit of fun with him’, but it was nice of him to offer his congratulations.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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