Dollar good value for wide margin success

Dollar Value was barely out of a canter when easily winning the Tote Jackpot Is Back Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick.

Usually a front runner, the seven-year-old was held up in the early stages by jockey Mark McDonagh before being sent on into the lead just after jumping the fourth last flight.

From there, McDonagh just allowed the grey his head and he went further and further way from his rivals.

A previous winner here last August, the Tom McCourt trained gelding obviously enjoys the twists and turns of this tight track.

Tom McCourt said: "He loves it around here, that's his third win here - two hurdles and a chase.

"I thought if he jumped off, he won, he's just quirky at the start. Even the last day in Kilbeggan, he was half thinking about it. He raced way off the pace but he finished very well.

"On his day he is very good. He's a right old horse and that is nine races he has won.

"His two Flat wins have probably left him higher than he wants, but I think he will win over fences. He's probably going to be harshly treated for hurdles, but 118 over fences is fairly workable for him I'd say.

"I brought him back in with the idea of going to Punchestown for one of the better races and I chickened out of it because of the big fields and messing at the start. If you have a false start or two with him, you're in trouble.

"I'd love to go to Galway but we went down there last year and there was three false starts and he just planted himself. He jumped one or two fences but he wasn't having any of it. It's just work with where we can get a smaller field."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham