Breakthrough success for Doyle's Star Bumper-placed Jerisk Star (16/1) bounced back from serious wind issues with a first success for his relieved trainer Liz Doyle today, having landed Gowran’s Racing TV Handicap Hurdle (div I) under jockey Richie Deegan. Runner-up in a course bumper on debut in January 2023, the six-year-old raced just four times subsequently and today debuted in a handicap on his seasonal return. Rated 94, Jerisk Star made all the running in the 2m4f contest and held on well to beat Aclass by 1.75 lengths. Trainer Doyle revealed “Jerisk Star has had horrendous palate issues and he literally couldn’t breathe. “A huge thank you to vet Hugh Dillon, at the Curragh, who mixed an old procedure with a new one and it seems to have helped him a bit anyway. Hugh is a ‘wind nerd’ and tricked around with a few things. It is has worked to a certain extent and I’m pleased to have some semblance of my good horse back. “He had a good first run but struggled with his palate then, which is the bane of every trainer’s life unfortunately. “I might go chasing with him pretty soon but we’ll see. It is just satisfying to get today out of the way for the work and effort you put into them. “It is a family-owned horse and are the colours of my late Dad, before my mother (retired M.E.P. Avril Doyle) took them over, so it is a nice day.”
