Grade 2-winning point-to-point graduate Claimantakinforgan is set for a novice chasing campaign, after his owners, Grech & Parkin, revealed that the exciting prospect would be sent over the bigger obstacles this autumn.
The winner of a four-year-old maiden at Loughanmore’s popular Easter fixture in 2016 for the Donnchadh Doyle and Monbeg Syndicate outfit, the son of Great Pretender marked himself out as a talented novice hurdler when coming home in front in the Grade 2 Kennel Gate Novices Hurdle at Ascot last December.
The top lot from the 2016 Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham April Sale went on to finish within five lengths of Summerville Boy in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, before ending his campaign with a second placed finish in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.
The Seven Barrows inmate will be joined by fellow Grech & Parkin-owned point-to-point graduates, Lough Derg Spirit and Mr Whipped, in a novice campaign during the 2018/19 national hunt season.
That pair both began their careers at Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables, with Mr Whipped claiming the Grade 2 Lemington Novices’ Hurdle, whilst Athlacca winner, Lough Derg Spirit, also featured prominently in graded company last season, finishing second in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.
Claimantakinforgan with @NdeBoinville on board - the plan is for him to go chasing this season after schooling fantastically last week #GrechParkin pic.twitter.com/kMbHRCPTBl
— Grech & Parkin (@GrechParkin) September 18, 2018
