MEENAGH MAVERICK stormed into the final of the Cearnsport 2021 Springbok with a powerful effort in the second semi-final of the novice hurdlers’ championship at Central Park on Sunday.

Trained by Ricky Holloway and part-owned by the local handler along with Simon Trubshaw, the April 18 son of Droopys Roddick and Slippery Cinders was bumped at the first bend but turned a clear second behind pace-setting Four Fifty Max.

Jim Reynolds’ dog maintained the advantage until tiring on the run for home when Meenagh Maverick swept past to win by three-and-a-half lengths in 29.94sec (-30) from Four Fifty Max, with Gartcloss Jaxx (Seamus Cahill) qualifying in third.

Winning trainer Ricky Holloway, who is aiming for a sixth victory in the competition as either trainer or owner, was delighted with the performance of the ex-Irish runner who was having just his sixth UK start on Sunday and has now notched four wins.

“He came over from Ireland as a very good dog on the flat, making the Irish Cesarewitch final as well as finishing second at the Night of Stars at Shelbourne, but has taken to hurdles really well,” said Holloway.

“He’s known as ‘Mickey Mouse’ in the kennel – we love him! – and he’s really taken to hurdles, is unbeaten in the event, and is improving at a rapid rate of knots. The stamina he showed on the flat is proving a real asset at Central Park.

“It’s a stiff four bends as everyone knows, so you need that mix of speed and stamina – and his power finish is being put to good use at Central Park. He represents the locals on Sunday, which is great for us – Central Park is the home of hurdling after all!

“I thought his performance on Sunday was top-notch, he’s got a perfect trap one draw and being the fastest in the line-up from the semi-finals gives him a really good chance of Category One glory. Fingers crossed he gets that slice of luck we all need.”

The David Mullins-trained Droopys Rex came through a real test on paper against fastest first-round winner Seaglass Smokey (Patrick Janssens) in the first semi-final to maintain his own cracking record over hurdles at Central Park.

Unbeaten in the Springbok and a winner of his last five starts at the Kent track, Droopys Rex paced up on the outside of Toolmaker Daddy (Ricky Holloway) and Seaglass Smokey and turned in second behind front-running Ballymac Lucifer (Jim Reynolds).

With Seaglass Smokey crowded out of contention, the advantage was with Droopys Rex who reeled in the game Ballymac Lucifer for a three-quarter length advantage at the line in 30.22sec (-30), with the winner’s kennelmate Woodcocks Aero qualifying in third.

Central Park racing manager Dan Homewood said: “We had a few hard luck stories on Sunday, but there’s no doubt we’ve ended up with a very good Springbok final.

“All the trainers involved have a long history of training top-class hurdlers and, while we’re hopeful of a local winner again with Ricky’s Meenagh Maverick, I’d say the trap draw has worked in Droopys Rex’s favour.

“He’s got trap six, which should suit, given Four Fifty Max went straight for the middle again in his semi-final which could clear the way for Rex. Of course, it’s a novice hurdle and so anything is possible as we’ve seen in years gone by.

“What is encouraging, and something to look forward to, is the standard looks good for the RPGTV Grand National which is only a matter of weeks away now. You’d like to think all six finalists and those who perhaps didn’t get their share of luck in the heats and semis will be back here at Central Park.

“Indeed I’d like to alert trainers that entry details for the RPGTV Grand National are in the latest GBGB Calendar (https://gbgb-prod-assets.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/26165148/Calendar-26-March-2021-Vol-13-No-06.pdf). The competition closes to entries on Wednesday, April 21, with the heats on Sunday, April 25.

“The semi-finals and final follow across the following two Sundays with the final on May 9 and we have a first prize of £7,500. Many thanks to RPGTV for supporting the jumpers’ Classic.”

Draw for Sunday’s Cearnsport 2021 Springbok Final: www.centralparkstadium.co.uk/assets/uploaded/files/documents/sundays-finals.pdf