Jiver revels in stamina test
Grey horse Mick The Jiver (David Splaine up) jumps the last with Cappacurry Zak
© Photo Healy Racing
Perhaps Mick The Jiver gets his grey colouring from his dam-sire Environment Friend. Whilst that fellow excelled over ten furlongs Mick The Jiver is a dour stayer as he showed when landing the Panoramic Restaurant Handicap Chase at Naas for the in-form Eoghan O'Grady stable.
O'Grady, on the mark with Westerner Point at Thurles on Thursday, gave David Splaine the leg-up on his father Arthur's Mick The Jiver.
The 7/1 shot proved much too strong on the run-in for runner-up, Cappacurry Zak and the rest, coming home with eleven lengths to spare.
The winning trainer reflected in the aftermath: "He gave us a fright at the second last. He seemed to jump it alright but nodded on landing. He jumped much better today and handled the ground.
"I've no real plans and we'll sleep on it. The three miles suited him today."
(AM & EM)