Shantreusse and Derek O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
Fergal O’Neill’s Direct Bloodstock, whose blue and white colours were carried to success at Cheltenham recently by Belfast Banter in the County Hurdle, were on the mark again as Shantreusse took the bumper at Clonmel.
The 7/4 joint favourite made a promising debut when second to the odds-on Ginto at Navan and went one better here in good style under Derek O’Connor.
The Sam Curling-trained gelding drew clear inside the final furlong to beat Donnrua Dream well-backed from 20/1 into 7/1, by three and a half lengths. Power Hour (66/1) made a bright start here keeping on well between horses in the closing stages to take third, while the other joint favourite Hemlock could make no impression inside the final furlong finishing fifth.
O'Connor said, "He was second the first day behind Ginto who by all accounts is a very, very good horse and we didn't disgrace ourselves.
"He appreciated the nicer conditions and has improved a whole lot.
"He has got everything, we were beaten by a possible star the first day and he is a very nice horse. He has a nice bit of speed and has a good future."
(TW & AM)
