Connell has big plans for Enniskerry

Enniskerry couldn't have put in a better chasing debut as he made all to win the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase in Galway.

He cleared the last two fences but appeared vulnerable on the long uphill run for home when even-money favourite Midnight Run improved to get almost upsides inside the final quarter of a mile.

Midnight Run tried to pass Enniskerry approaching the final furlong, however, was tough and refused to yield.

The pursuer cracked in the final 150 yards as Enniskerry went on and drew six and a half lengths clear at 8/1 for jockey Sean Flanagan. Jon Snow (3/1) was a length and three parts behind the runner-up in third.

“We hit the bar with him last year when we were second to M C Muldoon in the graded race,” said trainer Barry Connell.

“He's by Jeremy, and there's not too many of them around, and they always improve for a jump.

“It was high run over fences and you couldn't be too confident coming here today as there were a lot of highly-rated horses in it.

“We felt he'd run a nice race as he was in super form at home and I'm not surprised he's won. I would have been disappointed if he wasn't in the first three.

“I think fences suit him as he's a keen going horse and over hurdles he's just inclined to over race.

“With the extra number of fences there it settles him. We only schooled him a couple of times up the strip in the Curragh. The two fences in the dip he jumped like a showjumper.

“I was a little concerned the highly rated horse, Midnight Run, came up beside him but Sean said he had been filling him coming down the hill.

“We had dropped him back to two-and-a-quarter, he was a two-and-a-half or two-six horse over hurdles. We'll enjoy today and hopefully we have a nice potential graded horse.”

When asked if he could be a Galway Plate horse in time he added: “Maybe next year. You'd be hoping he might be a Drinmore horse.

“There isn't much more for him now and we might give him a little break and come back for something like the Drinmore in mind.”

Enniskerry won two of his six hurdle races.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson