Options open for Connell's easy winner

Lightly-raced nine-year-old jumper Enniskerry (5/1) showed a fine turn of foot to win Leopardstown's concluding Annual Members (QR) Maiden today, scoring for owner/trainer Barry Connell and jockey Finny Maguire.

The son of Jeremy had raced just 12 times previously but bagged a Grade 3 Roscommon chase last September and today reappeared following a pulled-up run in December's Grade 1 Drinmore Chase.

Racing in mid-division, Enniskerry moved into contention before the home turn and eventually quickened to easily defeat Mon Coeur by six lengths.

Connell commented “he had three goes to win a bumper aged six and couldn't as he was very keen, but he's a real pro now. He missed the kick today, settled away lovely, travelled everywhere and it was like a piece of work.

“Finny said he was never concerned at any stage, that he was always going to bolt up.”

He added “I was a little concerned about the ground, I live locally and we got 30mm during the week in half an hour which was grand, as it took the firm out of the ground. The plan was to come here and run a nice race.

“He's about 10lb lower over hurdles and while we were looking at a handicap hurdle in Galway, on the back of that we may have to look at the amateur handicap. He's going to get a high mark as the right horses were second and third - he could be a 90-rated flat horse.

“I actually thought about the Galway Plate earlier in the year but it's too far. He's a two-miler over fences and there's nothing for him until the autumn. The Cesarewitch is also there at the end of the year and it's a €100,000 race.”

Quotes from Gary Carson