Kaiser rules supreme in 'unplaced' maiden Kaiser De Chanay quickened away impressively to run out an easy winner of the KEP Italia Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel. The Martin Brassil-trained gelding made all the running in the two-mile-three contest and asserted after the second last. He came up in Ricky Doyle’s hands at the final flight as the 11/8 favourite sprinted away from his rivals for a facile 11 length success over long-time pursuer Drombane. The winner was taking a drop in class in the ‘unplaced’ event having shaped with promise in some strong events over the winter. "I was surprised by the rating he got (119) from his Navan run but the fact he had run more than twice qualified him for today's race, which was an ordinary one,” said Brassil. "Today's runner-up was having his first run over hurdles so he had the experience over him and jumps very well. “He had finished second in a point-to-point near here in Turtulla and all-in-all it was a step forwards from his previous runs. "We had been riding him wrong and not making enough use of him.  "He gives horses 'leads' schooling over hurdles at home and had his ears pricked today, looking for the next jump. It was straightforward and we might give him one more run before the summer." (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
