Cadatharla

Cadatharla was impressive in winning the two-mile-three-furlong Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Naas on Sunday. Settled just behind the leaders early on, he was slightly hampered at the sixth flight when Reflectionist made a mistake in front of him, which saw him drop back towards the rear of the field, but rider Aidan Kelly didn’t panic, he allowed his horse recover his rhythm and make his ground gradually again towards the leaders. JP McManus’ horse travelled well into the home straight, he moved easily into the lead at the second last flight and, despite making a mistake at the last, he came away from his rivals up the hill and won well.

Colm Murphy’s horse had shaped encouragingly in his two previous races, he was only beaten 13 lengths by Arctic Bresil on his previous run and, on his run before that, he had finished seventh in the maiden hurdle that was won by subsequent Grade 3 winner and current Albert Bartlett Hurdle favourite Hiddenvalley Lake, which has worked out really well subsequently. This race appeared to lack strength in-depth, but the runner-up Justicialism was one for one at Naas going into the race, and the third and fourth were both high in the market, and Cadatharla was well on top at the end. The handicapper raised him by 13lb to a mark of 122, but he is only five and this was just his fourth run over hurdles. He has the potential to go beyond his new handicap mark.
Naas, 8^th January 2023