Change of tactics proves just the trick with a Swagger Billy Lee Swagger was yet another to successfully adopt front-running tactics on the day at Fairyhouse when landing the Summerhill Meath Senior Football Champions 2025 Handicap Hurdle in decisive fashion. The Philip Rothwell-trained gelding was adding to a win at Punchestown nearly two years ago when making all under Tiernan Power Roche. The 6/1 chance, available at twice those odds overnight, had just a loose horse for company when drawing clear approaching the final flight and kept on well on the run-in to score by six and a half lengths. San Hilario filled the runner-up berth with I A Connect in third and Noble Birth completing the places in fourth. Rothwell said, “That was brilliant. We just decided to change things around completely today. “We thought he’d run well the last day in Navan. It was a decent run, but I thought he just raced way too lazily. “I thought there wasn’t much pace in the race and that he was fit, so we’d try and ride him very prominent. “Now I look clever, maybe I wasn’t too clever the last day. It’s great that it worked out really well. “He jumped well and he raced lazily in front, so he kept getting breathers. “We’re having a great run thankfully. “I had an idea that I’d send him to the ladies race in Limerick over Christmas and go back to dropping him in a little bit, but after that I’m not quite sure. “We might look elsewhere, maybe Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.” Quotes by Gary Carson
