
Main Site
Cheltenham Home
Cheltenham Cards
Cheltenham Results
-
Cheltenham Offers
Cheltenham Odds
-
Cheltenham Tips
Cheltenham News
Prestbury Cup
Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
-
Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
Desktop Site
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Xian holds on in grueller

Gary Carson
Xian holds on in grueller
Miss Xian (far side) holds on in bunch finish
© Photo Healy Racing
Miss Xian prevailed in a gruelling finish as conditions took their toll in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Francis Flood's charge was well backed before racing from 11/2 into 5/2 and after a initial drift on course was returned 5/2 favourite.
She hit the front at the third last but was joined by Dunroe Boy and the pair battled it out into the straight.
Dunroe Boy looked to be getting on top two out but Mark Walsh's mount battled back to lead at the last.
She looked in control on the run-in but tired in the closing stages and held on for a half-length success as the pack closed.
Dunroe Boy just held on for the runner-up spot. He was just a short-head in front of Preswell Lad and Spiker The Biker who dead-heated for third.
Dunroe Boy drifted left on the run-in, carrying Preswell Lad with him. The stewards held an enquiry and demoted him to fourth with the dead-heaters promoted to second.
The winner had proved no match for easy winner Wise Oscar on her last visit to the course on New Year's Day.
“She's very tough and she's from the Couldnt Be Better (won Thyestes and Hennessy) family and there are plenty of guts in the family,” said Francis Flood junior.
“I thought she was going to be caught but she just held on.”
The stewards handed Ian McCarthy a five-day ban for his ride on Dunroe Boy, judging he had used whip with excessive frequency and hadn't given his mount time to respond.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
