Poetic Rhythm shrugs off colic scare to win Fergal O’Brien’s first Grade One
Poetic Rhythm had to dig deep to defy both a recent bout of colic and a bold front-running ride by Adrian Heskin on Mulcahys Hill to win the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
RHYTHM was a dancer for Fergal O’Brien as the trainer celebrated his first Grade 1 win.
Poetic Rhythm got off his sick bed to win a thrilling Challow Hurdle under a strong drive from Paddy Brennan.
But it was the blues for Adrian Heskin who tried to snatch the race on Mulcahys Hill only to be run out of it close home.
The six-year had to be rushed to the vets with a worrying bout of colic, a potentially life-threatening gut condition.
He was certainly in rude health at Newbury yesterday to see off Mulcahys Hill by a short-head in a thrilling finish on stamina-sapping ground under Paddy Brennan.
O’Brien said: “He's a fantastic horse. I couldn't watch it close home but thankfully he did it.
“He’s so tough - Paddy said he had to be.
“He only had colic three weeks ago. Someone there at the yard at 5am noticed he wasn’t right. He got to the vets straight away and the rest is history.”
Poetic Rhythm will now head straight to the Cheltenham Festival for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
It was Chris Coley’s biggest win as owner after nearly 20 years. O’Brien’s business partner – head of The Yes No Wait Sorries – had snapped him up for £35,000 just over two years ago.
He said: “It hasn’t quite sunk in yet.”
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Nicky Henderson celebrated being made Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year’s Honours by winning the 2m4f handicap hurdle.
If he thought his gong was unlikely it was nothing compared to Brave Eagle’s success. He was under pressure a long way out and threatened to tail off before flying up the run-in.
Nicky Henderson said: “I nearly thought about going to have a drink.
“He hates the ground more than anything. Something fell in front of him two out and took him on to the chase course – he found a nice strip of ground.”