Ladiam a welcome winner for Lee Ladiam was a welcome winner for Norman Lee, with this Malinas eight-year-old leading home 15 rivals in the Connaught Bottlers Handicap Hurdle. Successful over the course and distance back in August of 2022 and second four times since, the 15/2 chance tracked the leaders under Gary Noonan Improving to the front before two out, the 92-rated bay was ridden away from the final flight and battled gamely to hold off the effort of Love Like This (11/1) by half-a-length. Returned the 10/3 favourite (from 13/2 early), Cois Fharraige was three-quarters of a length away in third, with Loughmask Rainbow (8/1 from 25s early) half-a-length back in fourth. "She deserved that, she's a good, honest little filly," Lee, who was registering his first winner since September of last year, reflected. "It's one of the sweetest wins we've had in a long time, for different reasons. It's good to get it, we needed that. "It worked out for us. It just shows that the small man can do the same job as the big man. Some lads don't think like that but our good owners have stuck with us through thick and thin. "We've had a barren spell for the last six or seven months. We had a lot of poor horses but the cream always rises to the top and we can do the job the same as anyone else.” STEWARDS REPORTS * P.M. O'Brien, rider of Brock Beauty, trained by Ms Claire O'Connell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount pulled up burst a blood vessal. * The Raceday Stewards interviewed R.P. Geoghegan, rider of Seventy Eight Team, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that he had not connected with one of his strikes. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted. Dr. E. O'Beirn recused himself from his enquiry. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
