Kells amateur rider Roger Loughran had his claim reduced from 7lb to 5lb when enjoying his finest hour to-date in the saddle by partnering I'vehadit to land the featured Woodlands Park 100 Club Novice Chase.
The 23-year-old was unable to avail of his 7lb claim in this Grade 3 event, but earned plaudits from trainer Dessie Hughes after getting the nine-year-old gelding up in the final strides to overhaul front-runner The Premier Cat.
'Roger gave him a lovely ride. He won on this horse at the Limerick Christmas meeting and, with Kieran (Kelly) at Doncaster today, we decided to put him up again. This fellow stays really well, and he will carry on in novices this season,' said Hughes.
Florida Coast was all the rage in the Bank Of Ireland Hurdle, but the Edward O'Grady-trained Sacundai turned the market on it's head with a stylish win under Norman Williamson. There was no great pace in this two and a half miles event, and Williamson oozed confidence as his mount jumped past Florida Coast at the final flight to score by four lengths.
'He's not been quite right since running at Navan in early November, and there were question marks over his fitness today,' said O'Grady before adding, 'He may go next for the Red Mills Hurdle at Gowran Park, and soft ground is important to him.'
Newlands Gold was also uneasy in the market for the EBF Irish Racing Writers Novice Hurdle, but the evens favourite struck the front off the home turn to beat Albuquerque by eight lengths. However trainer Michael O'Brien recounted a tale of woe afterwards saying, 'Thaix fractured a cannon-bone this morning, while Social Order is also out for the season having damaged a suspensory when winning at Cork. Newlands Gold needs much better ground, and the plan is to run him at Leopardstown and then the Triumph Hurdle,' for which he is 28/1 with Cashmans.
Willie Mullins views Mossy Green as a future chaser after the Moscow Society gelding made all under Charlie Swan to beat Fota Island by five lengths in the opening maiden hurdle.
Alan Magee
