Samui (second left) © Photo Healy Racing
Having ridden his first winner since returning from injury aboard Costanucci on day one of the the Listowel festival, Danny Gilligan landed the day two feature on 4/1 favourite Samui in the Liam Healy Memorial Lartigue Hurdle.
A heavy shower arrived before the race but the young Galway man returned to a sunny winners' enclosure after his mount edged out Dark Note by a head. Four horses jumped the last with a chance and Common Practice and Flamborough completed the frame.
The Siyouni gelding touched 14/1 this morning before the money came for him.
Gordon Elliott, who trains the winner for Allan Snow, said: "I was worried about the ground, which is yielding, but he went through it better than most. I was actually very nervous about my four runners due to the rain which came.
"Whatever happened he choked with Jack (Kennedy, jockey) the last day at Ballinrobe but it worked out today.
"I don't think he is a winter horse but is definitely a type to head to Cheltenham in November. We might then put him away as he could also run on the flat next year."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
