Front-runnning tactics yielded another valuable purse for the connections of Grimes on the opening day of the Killarney May meeting yesterday when he defied top-weight under Charlie Swan in the featured Murphys Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle.
Raised fifteen pounds after his pillar to post defeat of Decoupage in the Shell Champion Hurdle at Punchestown earlier this month, the J.P. McManus-owned seven-year-old kept up the relentless gallop throughout to land the spoils with consummate ease from Winter Garden and Killultagh Storm.
'He was great and picked up well when I asked him,' remarked Charlie Swan while Christy Roche said, ' I always thought this horse was good and he has given me tremendous satisfaction. His owner was very patient - who else would have put up with him. There's a message when you see how many horses are ruined.'
On future plans, Roche added, 'He'll probably get a break. The Galway Hurdle is a #100,000 race but I'll have to run in by the boss first.'
Former champion chaser Klairon Davis put up a gallant effort to return to winning ways in the Freefoam Chase but when Barry Cash asked him for another big leap at the last when holding a fractional advantage, he failed to respond and nearly unshipped his rider.
Cash performed heroics to keep the partnership intact for third place but the error handed the contest to market leader Palette and a pleasant 21st birthday present for dual Grad National-winning rider Ruby Walsh.
' She's run around Galway before and I have the Galway Plate in mind for her along with the Elan National at Kilbeggan,' said winning trainer Willie Mullins.
Philip Carberry captured the riding honours for the afternoon with a double sparked off aboard well supported Khaysan (5-4 to 4-7) for Pat Hughes in the maiden hurdle before Bandon Valley completed a hat-trick for Cork trainer Eugene O'Sullivan in the two-and-a-half mile handicap chase.
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