Cheltenham allies on the mark at Downpatrick

Trainer Edward O'Grady and owner J.P. McManus have combined for many March winners and while Jumptoconclusions win in the Irish Jockeys Association Novice Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick today won't rank highly, the win was a fitting one ahead of next Tuesday's Champion Hurdle.

Ridden by Barry Geraghty, the son of Scopion stayed on strongly on the run-in for a four lengths win over Feel The Air

O'Grady, who sends the McManus owned Kitten Rock to Cheltenham for the Champion Hurdle, later stated "the race panned out very much for him and the fancied horses had a bad day out or fell.

"He was fortunate and I'm delighted and I think he will like better ground. We'll probably try for something similar next."

Regarding the injury to McManus' retained Irish rider and Kitten Rock's regular partner Mark Walsh, O'Grady stated "it's nice to have Barry back, but I'm sorry for poor Mark (Walsh)."

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham