Rauzan makes light of drop back in trip to complete four-timer

Having started his winning run at this track in May, Rauzan returned to the sunny south east to complete his four-timer in the Waterford FC Handicap Hurdle at Tramore.

Twice a winner at Downpatrick in the interim, the Eoin Doyle trained gelding coped admirably with dropping down to the minimum trip as he prevailed here under Hugh Morgan.

Held up towards rear as usual, the four-year-old made headway into fifth entering the straight, before heading leader Dark Note on the run to the last.

Staying on strongly as stamina came into play, the 10/1 chance went clear to beat Granpa Ger by three lengths with Dark Note back in third.

winning trainer Eoin Doyle said: "We were worried the trip was too short for him. He was behind the bridle the whole way, just struggling to hold his position. He(Hugh Horgan) said once he pulled him out wide he just locked onto it and once he met the rising ground he just went away from them.

"Probably two-and-a-half-miles is his optimum trip. Sure I mean four on the bounce, he is a grand little horse. He is in again on the flat on Saturday over two miles so we will see how he is. Hopefully he might take his chance again.

"It's great for Hugh, he gave him a great ride. He is coming in there now giving me a hand. Good solid rider so it's great. I own him myself and my mother (Patricia). It's great to get a winner at the local track. He is progressive so we might look at something like the Lartigue in Listowel or something like that.

"He is going up away in the weights but he is defying it anyway."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy