Hans defies the odds to overturn short priced fav

Hans Crescent the outsider of the six runners at 12/1, took the third on the card at Greenmount Park this evening, the Follow Limerick Racecourse on Facebook Hurdle.

Trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Barry Geraghty, the 6yo was returning back to his best form having won his maiden hurdle at Wexford in October of ‘09 and a two mile maiden at Dundalk in February of the following year.

However he ran sixteen times since his Dundalk win and hence he was sent off the outsider of the field.

Having won his maiden hurdle over the course and distance at the beginning of this month, Scene of the Crash went off the shorted priced 5/4 favourite for Myles Sunderland and John Cullen.

Turning into the straight Nakajima Nate and Makhaaleb were battling it out for the lead with the favourite in third and the winner in fourth.

However jumping two out the favourite came through to just lead with Hans Crescent running on in third.

The winner then gained on Scene of the Crash before the last and soon took up the lead on the run-in before asserting to score by two and a half lengths.

Winning trainer Michael Hourigan said afterwards: “We fancied him the last day at Downpatrick (where he finished third behind London Bridge and today‘s rival Makhaaleb).

He has been a bit disappointing but he wants quick ground and will go for a Novice Chase towards the end of the week at Galway.

Donal Murphy