Splendid Choice gets the ball rolling for Rothwell & Power Roche After a successful 2024-25 season, Splendid Choice provided Philip Rothwell and Tiernan Power Roche with a first win of the new campaign. An encouraging fourth when last seen at Limerick, the 89-rated six-year-old was sent off a 6/1 chance (touched 10s early) this afternoon. Given a patient ride, the Michael Hannon and Alan Wright-owned bay made good progress on the outer from the third last and swept through to dispute the lead on the approach to the final flight. Jumping that obstacle in unison with last year's winner A Nod To Getaway, he ultimately outstayed that rival on the run-in, with just a neck between them at the line. The runner-up was returned at 6/1 under Darragh O'Keeffe for Paul O'Flynn, while Phoenix Cowboy (15/2) was another four-lengths way in third. Returned the 3/1 favourite, Lough Nigara could faded once headed approaching the straight and eventually finished seventh. "He showed bit of ability at home. He made a very bad mistake at Sligo last year and went wrong behind," Rothwell reflected. "His first run or two back this year was disappointing but we had a little job done with him. Since then he was sixth and fourth and now he has won, so he has built confidence. "He is a fine, big good looking horse, he is a smashing model and he might be way better over a fence. "I think his owners probably want to upgrade and we'll look at running him in another handicap hurdle. He is probably more of a chaser and is one that'll probably head to the sales. "He has a very good pedigree and it suggests that he'll be a better chaser. I might even put a syndicate together myself and keep him to go chasing. I'll talk to his owners and see. That's my first horse for them. "That's my first winner of the season. We had a rocky week and I thought Ballybrittas would run well last night but things just went a bit wrong and then you start to panic, but it's nice to get going again."
