'Progressive' Our Soldier follows-up on Wexford win In the colours of billionaire businessman Denis O'Brien, Our Soldier followed-up on his breakthrough success at Wexford, as he led home 14 rivals in the Johnny's Race Day Handicap Hurdle. Second to Aspurofthemoment over the course and distance in April, the Edward O'Grady-trained victor managed to reverse the form with that rival this evening. Sent off a 9/2 chance (from 11/2) under Harry Swan, the Soldier Of Fortune six-year-old tracked the leaders and took closer order from five out. While not fluent at the third last and soon losing a place, he responded well when ridden from the penultimate flight and fought his way to the front before the last, keeping on well in the closing stages to score by three-lengths. The Gordon Elliott-trained Howdoyalikeherhome (10/1) filled the runner-up spot under Danny Gilligan, while the aforementioned Aspurofthemoment (2/1f) was another length-and-a-quarter away in third. "He's a lovely horse, he's progressive and I'm looking forward to him," Swan commented. "I thought he travelled a lot better the last day in Wexford but, to be fair, he probably showed more of an enthusiastic way today as well. I think he's a bit of a lazy horse and he just needs a bit of getting after. "He's probably not the quickest horse in the world, but he finds. He's definitely a horse that wants a fence as well, I'd say you'd see him better over a fence. "I was second on him in an amateur race here a couple of months and he actually is a lovely horse to ride. He's a lovely, big, good-looking horse. "The owners Denis O'Brien and his son Patrick are very nice, I'd be good friends with Patrick, so it is good to get a leg up for them." STEWARDS REPORT * K.E Buckley, rider of Major Barry, trained by Paul Stephen Kiely, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung violently left and pulled up with a circuit to go. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
