'He has the look of a horse who will get better with racing' – Balko D'Ange rounds off good Christmas for Fenton

After saddling Shraheen to win a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on Thursday, Philip Fenton rounded off the Christmas festivals in style as Balko D'Ange shed his maiden tag in the Listed 2m handicap hurdle. 

It was a bit of a headscratcher for connections that the four-year-old had failed to win before now, although his defeat here on the inside track on his previous start last month looks far better since winner Cottesloe Sunshine followed up in a Listed contest at Thurles. 

Rider Niall Moore had things in control once his mount went to the front before the straight and, try as they might, his rivals could not make any impression, Balko D'Ange prevailing by a length and a half from Bright Legend.

Fenton said: "He missed a few hurdles last time, which is unlike him. He's generally quick at his hurdles. We were disappointed with him then, but then you look at what the winner has done since.

"He was in off a nice mark and has the look of a horse who will get better with racing. Putting him into a good handicap off a low weight is the way we're probably thinking. 

"The big handicap hurdles at the Dublin Racing Festival might just be a bit competitive for him at this stage; we'd like to take it step by step."

Caelum some compensation for Ryan

The 2m3f rated novice hurdle proved the roughest race of the week, with a scrimmaging incident early in the straight between favourite Say It So and Rut Daniels leading to jockey Conor McNamara receiving a two-day ban for careless riding on the former.

While that was happening, David Doyle sent Ad Caelum to the front and the mare picked up well to see off the challenge of Killaney King by a length and three-quarters.

Emotional winning trainer John Ryan did not really feel like celebrating after losing stable star Lucid Dreams in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown a couple of days earlier. 

"It was very hard to take," he said. "I'm heartbroken over him. He'd just jumped a fence, put his foot in a divot and broke his leg. I buried him yesterday. I loved the horse."

John Ryan: has had a tough few days following the loss of stable star Lucid DreamsCredit: Caroline Norris

Roc on road to Cheltenham

A very enthusiastic group of owners took over the winner's enclosure after the opening maiden hunter chase. The winning Near or Never Syndicate hail from the Kilworth and Araglen area of Cork, and they hope their lightly raced Con's Roc can take them to Cheltenham for the festival. 

Winning trainer Terence O'Brien said of the Darragh Allen-ridden winner: "He won his point-to-point really impressively last season. Ideally, we'd love to think we could end up at Cheltenham. He'll have one run before then and I hope to get him in."

Read these next:

'This was the big one' - Impaire Et Passe gives Daryl Jacob a perfect Christmas send-off 

'He's similar to Majborough' – Mullins has high hopes for Kaid D'Authie as novice defies drift to enter Cheltenham picture 

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