THE John Nallen-owned/trained Minella Escape (2/1 - 3/1f) looked a horse of some potential when claiming the five-year-old geldings’ maiden on a tremendous afternoon of action at the Co Clare-hunt meeting in picturesque Bellharbour last Sunday. Forming the initial leg of a double for Johnny Barry, the Beat Hollow gelding took a forward position early and jumping impeccably, improved to head his front-running stable-mate Minella Away after the second last. From here, the imposing bay was always in control as he readily powered clear to dismiss the Warren Ewing-handled Here We Have It by a cosy six-lengths.

“This horse had done some lovely pieces of work at home last year with the likes of Minella Melody, but we just felt he needed more time, so we waited for him. He’s all of 17.2hh, with fantastic use of himself and is learning all the time. He’ll head on to the next Cheltenham Sale now,” said Nallen of his €20,000 foal acquisition who had been a promising fourth on his debut in Boulta in December.