Lieutenant earns stripes for de Bromhead

Sub Lieutenant joined Henry de Bromhead over the summer as part of Gigginstown’s reorganisation, and the half-brother to Lord Windermere made a tremendous start for his new handler when making most for an impressive success in the Pricewaterhousecooper Rated Chase at Limerick.

The six-year-old son of Brian Boru, a Graded winner both over hurdles and fences for Sandra Hughes, put in a fine round of jumping and drew right away from the penultimate fence.

David Mullins, replacing the injured Bryan Cooper, could enjoy himself on the run-in as the well-backed evens favourite stretched right away to beat Pairofbrowneyes by 13 lengths.

De Bromhead said, “I’ve loose schooled him since he came to me and he’s one of those horses that just gets it right every time.

“I wanted to buy him when he was in the Derby Sale but didn’t have enough to get him. It’s funny the way things work out.

“I’ll have to see what Michael and Eddie want to do but he could go for the two and a half miles Grade 2 at Down Royal.

“It’s nice to get today out of the way. He’s a really exciting horse.”