Repeat That springs a surprise on second start for Kelly

Repeat That sprang a 25/1 surprise when landing the  Sean Daly Cornaher Memorial Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Cian Quirke.

The 11-year-old son of Shantou had only one previous win to his name which came for trainer Michael Butler at Bellewstown in the summer of 2021.

Here, having his second start for Harry Kelly, Patrick Duggan's veteran made good headway after the second-last and went on before the final flight where a fluent leap carried him to an easy 11-lengths victory over Hill Rocket  

“He's a top class trainer, if he's given the horse," said Quirke.

"He knows how to freshen up an older horse and is well able to train a young horse.  

“When I was coming down the hill the last day and he passed a couple of horses he started enjoying himself and took off. 

“He blew up coming up the hill in Wexford. I knew if he could put in a run like that the next day he'd be a bit fitter. He's a big burly older horse and takes a bit more training nowadays. 

“I think there is plenty more to come from him. He wants a bit of nicer ground, he might not get too much of that going forward but hopefully there is another day somewhere. 

“He's done a couple of things that are questionable in races but that's part of him and you have to know him and mess away with him through the race. He's a grand horse. 

“I didn't plan to be as far back but we got squashed out a bit at the start. It actually worked out in our favour because he loved it back there. He was jumping into the back of horses and I was filling him up and getting him back on the bridle. He was loving it. 

“I knew going to the second last it was all over, I just didn't want to be there too soon but I hadn't anything to bring me any further.”

Quotes from Gary Carson