Riggs back to winning ways for Cluskey It has certainly been a long time between drinks for Riggs, the Peter Cluskey trained winner of the Remembering Caughoo Handicap Chase at Downpatrick. Last successful in November 2020, when trained by Dan Skelton, the 10-year-old was recording just the second victory of his 34-race career. Placed twice in Grade 3 handicap hurdles for Skelton following that breakthrough success, the Mahler gelding subsequently lost his form, failing to finish on his final three starts in Britain. Despite showing a bit more promise when switched to John McConnell, Riggs failed to win in a further nine starts for the Meath based trainer. It has been somewhat hit and miss for Cluskey as well, being pulled up on four occasions and showing little in most of the other starts. However, following a more promising fourth at Down Royal last time, Riggs looked back to his old self here. Always up with the pace, he was sent to the front three out under Liam MacKenna. Stretching clear on the run to the last, he found plenty when asked to go and win his race entering the straight, keeping on well to win by three lengths. Liam McKenna said: "It is great for Peter to get him sweetened up. "I'd say that track suited him. He has all the ability, but thinks about racing. Today he was up and down and turning just kept his head right. "When he jumped two fences, I knew he was a different horse. The day in Down Royal, I never went a yard and he stayed on from the back of the last over 3m2f. When he jumped and travelled today, I knew he would stay going. "It is low-grade, but there isn't an easy one in this country." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
