Il Silenzio scores a repeat success at Roscommon An 11/1 chance when winning the race last year, Il Silenzio returned to land the Campbell’s Bar Ballinlough Handicap Chase as the 7/2 favourite at Roscommon this evening. Trained for the Hopefuls Syndicate by Martin Brassil, the nine-year-old was only running for the second time since last year’s success. Conor Smithers was in the saddle this time and he got Il Silenzio home by half a length ahead of Oliver McKiernan’s 6/1 chance One Way Traffic, denying McKiernan and double and jockey Phillip Enright a treble on the evening. “He’s a horse that has taken lots of time during his life,” said Brassil. “He seems to be in a good place since he won here this time last year. We gave him a good long break after here. “He had a grand run back in Punchestown, where he was a good fourth, but it was a tough race on him and it took him until now to get over it. “He loves this track here and a bit of nice ground. “He doesn’t take a lot and you could train him on the lunge. He’s easier than most. “He might revert to a hurdle race if there wasn’t a chase coming up.”
