Consecutive wins for Collaborative Collaborative (10/1) registered back-to-back wins today, as the Oliver McKiernan-trained five-year-old landed Fairyhouse’s Book Your Advanced Tickets Now Rated Novice Hurdle under Philip Enright. Previously successful at Navan last month, 110-rated Collaborative today improved to lead approaching the final flight and held off Puturhandstogether by a length. The race saw gambled Ballysax Hank start the heavily-supported 8/13 favourite but having initially raced prominently, weakened quickly from the third-last and was trailing when pulling up early in the home straight. Afterwards winning jockey Enright said “we went a good gallop, the ground is tough and he stuck at it well. “He had form over 2m4f the last day so I was hoping he’d get the trip well today over two miles: the tough ground counteracted the drop back in trip. “He’s improved from run-to-run this year and hopefully can keep improving. He has plenty of size and scope to jump a fence down the line.” Quotes from Gary Carson
