Jacob climbing the Ladder over hurdles The field for the NavanRacecourse.ie Maiden Hurdle was reduced to just four after five of the declared runners were taken out and Jacob’s Ladder caused a minor surprise at odds of 6/1. Trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, the son of Mount Nelson got this season off to a winning start in a Down Royal bumper but was soundly beaten on both subsequent outings including when hampered on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown. Stable-companion Kainsbourg dropped out tamely approaching the final flight with 6/5 favourite Forty Coats looking the likely winner after a fine jump at the last. However, Jacob’s Ladder found plenty under pressure on the run-in for Sam Ewing and got up in the closing stages to beat the favourite by a neck with the front-running Smooth Scotch a further four and three-quarters of a length away in third. Elliott said, "We were slow at the last and the leader had good form. "He is a nice horse and he won a bumper (at Down Royal) well. He was disappointing obviously in the bumper at Punchestown. Jumping is going to be his game. "He has gears and is a good honest horse. We will get him home and see where we are. "We will try and find something small again for him." Additional reporting by Michael Graham
