A racehorse that recently exchanged hands for more than half a million euros will make its first run for its prominent new owner at Thurles later today.
Staffordshire Knot was a €510,000 buy for Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud at the recent dispersal sale of Andrew and Gemma Brown earlier this month at Fairyhouse.
The horse has stayed with Gordon Elliott as was with the previous owners.
His last run came at Down Royal in January where he was a whopping 21-length winner of a bumper race, having previously finished third on debut behind leading Cheltenham Festival fancy Readin Tommy Wrong at Cork in late November last year.
Today Thursday, Thurles will be the scene of his next run, where he is a 4-5 favourite to land the BoyleSports-sponsored grade three hurdle contest.
The race goes off at 3.23pm on Thursday and plenty of eyes will be on the Gordon Elliott-trained runner, who was one of a number of horses to be sold by the Brown’s at Fairyhouse as they decided to move away from the horse racing scene.
Staffordshire Knot could enhance his Cheltenham Festival credentials with a strong run at Thurles, with the six-year-old holding an entry in the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival next month where he is a 16/1 chance in the Cheltenham betting.
Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle odds (via Cheltenham betting)
Ballyburn 7/4
Slade Steel 7/2
Ile Atlantique, Mystical Power 5/1
Readin’ Tommy Wrong 13/2
Gidleigh Park 11/1
Billericay Dickie 12/1
Brighterdaysahead 14/1
Captain Teague, Staffordshire Knot, Handstands 16/1
18/ bar
