Chosen Shant makes all in facile win A runner-up on her debut for Aengus King at Cork earlier this month, Chosen Shant (10/3jf) trounced her rivals in the first divide of WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle. Sent straight to the front by Phillip Enright and soon establishing a clear lead, the Shantou nine-year-old increased her advantage early on the final circuit. While not fluent over the last, she ultimately sauntered to a 10-length win - her first in 29 starts. Returned at 16/1, Stormy Jenn filled the runner-up spot under Liam McKenna, while Kir Royal Blu (33/1) was another four-and-a-half lengths back in third. The other joint-favourite was Splendid Choice, with this one finishing fourth. "I got her from Tom Meagher and I have to give her back in January or February as he wants to go breeding with her. He was hoping I could get a couple of wins into her before that," King explained. "She has just improved and just likes the way we work. She's improving everyday and we didn't do anything with her for the first month, we left her off completely and then after that we worked her slowly and slowly. "The last day in Cork Phillip fought with her and it wasn't ideal. I said to Phillip that she can be very free at the start and he said that if he hadn't of fought with her that she would have won. "Phillip has been placed for me I don't know how many times and I've been trying to get a winner for him. That's the first and I'm over the moon. He got a great spin on the last one (Fill The Tank) as well and finished third. "I was thinking of Galway but it is probably too soon and you should just enjoy the wins. "We aren't very hard on the horses at home. We have a good uphill gallop of half-a-mile and it does get horses fit without killing them. "She has plenty of options, she could go for a novice or try get some blacktype. "I'm delighted for Tom, who is a vet in Clonmel and owns Kedrah Stud. I'm friendly with Tom for years."
