Only By Night camp to consider Scilly Isles bid at Sandown

Gavin Cromwell could send the exciting Only By Night to Sandown for the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase on Saturday week having missed an intended outing at Thurles this weekend.

Cromwell felt the ground was just too quick for his charge ahead of the Grade Two Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase.

She has taken to fences with aplomb, beating Mirazur West at Tipperary before being even more impressive in Grade Two company at Cork, where she accounted for Nara, who went on to win Sunday’s Thurles contest.

Should Only By Night not travel to Sandown, Cromwell has the Opera Hat at Naas as an option too.

“We walked the track and thought it was just too lively. After Keith (Donoghue) rode Millforce (to win the previous novice hurdle), he said they were just barely knocking the top off it,” said Cromwell.

“She’s a big, heavy-shouldered mare and hits the ground hard.

“There’s a Grade One in Sandown on Saturday week that we might give her an entry for and also the Opera Hat the following week, so she’ll probably go to one or the other.”