Three wins inside a week for in-form Mephisto The Ger Keane trained Mephisto recorded his third win of the week when easily defying a penalty to win the Comeragh Veterinary Kilmachthomas Handicap Hurdle at Tramore. A 16-race maiden over hurdles prior to shedding that tag at Wexford last Friday, the grey then followed up when making it back-to-back wins at Ballinrobe on Monday. Despite being hit with an additional 7lb hike for that latest success, the eight-year-old always travelled nicely for Shane Fitzgerald before coming through to head Clonbury Bridge after jumping two out. Easing clear after the final flight, the gelding scored readily be four-and-a-quarter lengths. Regarding the upturn in form, Keane said: "The only thing I can think of is going up in trip. He ran over two-and-a-half at Sligo one day where he made a bad mistake and should have won. He works like a good horse at home and we always knew he kept a bit for himself on the Flat. "His jumping was letting him down earlier on his career as well. He got a few terrible falls and I'd say he lost his confidence as well. "We ran him in a few claimers and put him in for E8,000 and we just said if he goes, he goes. I kept telling the lads to get rid of him. He hadn't won since March of 2023 and I just told them to get something else. I knew he had ability and I said to bring him somewhere else either, to see would that work. Thank God neither of those options came to pass! "He is a lovely horse at home and any kid could ride him. He is just a pure rogue. He is handicapped over fences and can go back to Dundalk for those two-mile races as well. "He won very easy today so maybe he will go to the next grade over hurdles. There is loads of options for him." Additional reporting by Donal Murphy.
