Stuntman bounces back to spring shock Stuntman Steve did well to avoid the attentions of the loose horse as he sprang a 50/1 shock in the Kildress Plumbing Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal. There was a dramatic start to the race as 6/5 favourite Ben Hur blundered at the first and unseated Sam Ewing. He proved a distraction at the head of affair afterwards, hampering a few horses. Stuntman Steve was produced to lead going to the second last in the two-miler and ducked inside the loose horse before the final flight. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding kept on well for Alix Balfe on the run-in to post a four-length win over Lygon Lad. Stuntman Steve was switching back to the smaller obstacles, having been well-beaten over fences at Sligo last time. Balfe said afterwards: "This is definitely the biggest winner of my career and a big thanks to connections, it is brilliant. "He (loose horse) did us no harm the whole way round. Just as I came down to the second last, he started wandering in front of me, but I just switched in just in case he went left - I didn't want to go left. He didn't really bother me too much. "I'm with Gavin four days a week and with Dermot McLoughlin two days a week - the two of them have been fantastic to me and I can't thank them enough. “My agent Garry Cribbin does a fantastic job for us all." (Quotes by Michael Graham)
