Sea Hymn again showed his liking for a tight track when easily taking the Commercial Refrigeration Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Kieran Kelly. 'He likes these undulating tracks as he has also run well at Downpatrick,' said trainer Dessie Hughes, who also had news of stablestar Colonel Braxton. 'He will go for a beginners chase early next month, and I would like to bring him to a raccourse before that for a school. He's in good form, and will run over staying distances', said the Curragh handler.
Givenchy de Solzen completed a hat-trick over fences this season when taking the featured Gain Horse Feeds Novice Handicap Chase. The seven-year-old gelding drifted from 4/6 to Evens at the off in this five runner event, and had just struck the front for Danny Howard when a fine leap at the final fence settled the issue to beat Saint-Declan by two and a half lengths.
Paul Carberry continues to set a strong pace at the head of the jockeys table, and he moved onto the 52 winner mark for the season when Gregorian readily landed division 1 of the Unecol Oil Company Maiden Hurdle. The evens favourite cruised to the front before the last to beat King Of Ireland by three and a half lengths, and trainer Philip Rothwell will now look for a novice hurdle.
Carberry is 16 clear of nearest rival Barry Geraghty, who landed division 2 aboard the well-backed Muck Savage. 'He was bought out of Eddie Hales stable less than two months ago with a future over fences in mind,' said winning trainer Tony Mullins.
Say Again provided owner Sean Duggan, who recently had triple heart by-pass surgery, with a welcome tonic when taking the Sweep Garage Rated Hurdle under John Cullen. 'He's a great jumper of fences, and will go for a novice chase soon,' said trainer Paul Nolan.
Alan Magee
