Ted Walsh was delighted with Any Second Now’s victory at Punchestown on Saturday and may now aim him at the Deloitte Novice Hurdle.
The five-year-old pulled off a 66/1 triumph on his debut at Navan last month and made it a double with success in the Grade Two Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.
Punters could not get the same price this time around, however, and the son of Oscar was returned the 6/1 second favourite under Mark Walsh.
Dr Mikey led the six-strong field for much of the two-mile race but faded at the business end of proceedings, as Crack Mome and Runfordave moved to the front.
Crack Mome was starting to pull clear but landed awkwardly at the final flight, allowing Mark Walsh to deliver Any Second Now with a well-timed run.
Options are now open for the gelding although Walsh is looking at Leopardstown for a horse he admires.
“He could be a very good horse. He?s a big, raw sort of a horse,” he said. “I?ll leave it to Frank [Berry] and JP [McManus] – I?m sure they?ll have loads of ammunition for Cheltenham, we won?t be rushing.
“We could maybe look at the Deloitte, which is five weeks away. We’ll keep him to the better tracks, the likes of here, Leopardstown, Naas, Navan or Fairyhouse.”
