Don Jefe delights O'Leary in Fairyhouse Don Jefe stepped up on a fifth place in Cork to get off the mark at the third time of asking in the extended two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse. He improved into second at the fourth-last hurdle and got on terms with Walking Saint rounding the home bend. The Jack Hobbs gelding led narrowly two out from that rival who was less than fluent, which gave the new leader the chance to assert under Michael Kenneally. A staying-on Gunnery Sergeant looked the danger running to the last, but Don Jefe got away from it well and galloped in by six lengths at 16/1. Gunnery Sergeant took the runner-up berth at 15/2 and was the same distance in front of La Tatoue Madrik (22/1). Gerard Edmund O'Leary said: “He had a lovely run in Mallow. He was probably just a bit raw the first day in Gowran and ideally looking back now, I probably would have left his first run to be in Mallow. “He’s after coming on from his run in Mallow and I knew he’d be close today. I’m delighted. “This is as nice a horse as I’ve had. He’s a really promising horse. “He’s owned by Vince O’Driscoll and myself, we are Double O Racing. Anything is for sale, but it won’t bother me to keep this horse as he’s as good a horse as I’ve had. “He’s a very smart one going forward.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
