Randall lands gamble on return to action Fort Randall made the most of his opportunity as second reserve in first division of the William Hill Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle when landing a nice touch for connections. The Noel Kelly-trained gelding went to post 2/1 favourite in the two-mile-three contest having been 14/1 in the morning. Oran McGill had his mount prominent throughout and disputed over the fourth last. The Valirann gelding went on over the next and was clear before the last as he posted a eight-and-a-half length success. Fort Randall was making his first outing since January 2025 and Kelly said afterwards:- “We took him to Down Royal on the 17th of March last year and whatever he did in the horsebox coming down the road he knocked himself. “We were still going to run him but the vet wasn’t happy. It took us about six months to get him right. No vet could still us what was wrong with him. “We just gave him a break and threw him off. Thank-God the owner was very happy to give him a break and he supported us very well. He was a bit impatient a couple of times but it paid off today. “It wasn’t the best race in the country and hopefully the handicapper is not going to be that sore on us. “The plan was to jump out and be handy and if nobody makes the running he (Oran McGill) said he’d make the running. “I don’t make it too complicated for jockeys, jump out and do your own thing. “He was ready to run for the past three or four weeks but there was nothing really coming up to suit him and the ground was too heavy. This is the first bit of nice ground we got for him. “We bought him for summer ground racing but it was just unlucky last summer that we never got a race into him. “We’ll plan another race for him in three or four weeks time. Thank-God he came back there 100 percent sound and we’ll see what he’s like tomorrow.”
