Oilily

Oilily did well to finish third in the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.

Sean Byrne’s mare was settled in a close third on the inside behind the two leaders, and she travelled a little enthusiastically as she often does. She made a mistake at the fifth hurdle and another one at the third last, where she just failed to see a stride, but she was still travelling well when she got fairly badly checked on the home turn. She was relegated to second last place when they straightened up, and she had to pull around the weakening Karabak before staying on quite takingly to take third behind Get Me Out Of Here and Tofino Bay, clear of Oscars Well in fourth.

The ground was been softer than ideal for Oilily, she is at her best on top of the ground, as evidenced by her close seconds in the Grade 2 Top Novice Hurdle at Aintree last year and the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown in 2010. She is a generally under-rated mare and she is interesting now, she could be a betting proposition if she runs at Punchestown, especially if Davy Russell is back on board. She ran a cracker for Russell on her previous run at Cork on the only occasion on which he rode her. His quiet style seemed to suit her well.

9th April 2012