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The exciting Ferny Hollow overcame a 791-day absence to land the Grade 3 Newlands Chase at Naas on Sunday, easily beating a field of five rivals.
Winner of the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2020, Ferny Hollow was only seen once as a novice hurdler, beating subsequent Grade 1 winner Bob Olinger at Gowran Park in November 2020. He returned a year later with a successful chasing debut and followed up quickly with an easy success in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December 2021.
Plagued by injury, the nine-year-old was expected to need his first run back in the Newlands Chase after such a lengthy absence but always looked in control under jockey Paul Townend. In contention throughout the early stages, Ferny Hollow took up the lead jumping the last and went clear up the run-in, securing a five-and-a-half length success over Rebel Gold.
"I was happy with him to do that after such a long lay-off," said trainer Willie Mullins.
"Hopefully, now he stays sound so that we can keep him that way.
"He popped over a few hurdles and a few fences yesterday morning and I was happy with him. The conditions of this race suited him a bit better than last week (Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park).
"I think he's still young enough to put in a career best over fences. He just has to overcome this first run and come back sound and we'll see where we go."
Although Paddy Power immediately cut the Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding from 14/1 to 6/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Mullins was reluctant to commit.
"He's entered in Cheltenham. It may be a big ask on his second run, but we'll have a look. It may come a bit soon," he said.
"He settled lovely and even though he's free going, once you settle him in, he listens and responds to you. We were happy to use those tactics and hoped that if he got around safe and sound that he'd be the fastest horse in the straight, which he was.
"It will be all about how he comes out of the race in the next week, and we'll probably look for easier options for the time being."