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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Kennedy gets off the mark for Gigginstown

Thu 19th Nov 2015, 14:14

Roman Gold (right) leads Just Cause over the final flightRoman Gold (right) leads Just Cause over the final flight
© Photo Healy Racing

Roman Gold provided Jack Kennedy with a landmark success as the promising claimer recorded his first win in the famous Gigginstown colours when taking the I N H Stallion Owners EBF Rated Novice Hurdle at Thurles.

Bryan Cooper elected to partner Just Cause in this 2m6f event, and the Mouse Morris-trained gelding struck the front at the penultimate flight.

However the 2/1 favourite was soon challenged by Roman Gold, who took over in the lead just before the final flight.

The 7/2 chance, an easy maiden hurdle winner at Clonmel last month, soon asserted on the run-in and kept on to great effect to score by six lengths. Ben Button was another length and a half adrift in third.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, "He was getting the allowances and had Jack's five pounds claim. I was a bit worried about him staying the trip but Jack gave him a nice ride and got him settled.

"He'll more than likely go straight over fences now."

Elliott also had news of Mala Beach who took a heavy fall around halfway in the Listed race won by Sir Des Champs saying "He is grand and was giving Davy a great spin until his fall. He (Russell) was happy how he was going and travelling but it was a lack of communication (at the fence). Davy was going to let him pop it but the horse stepped into it."

(TW & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.