Shadow Catcher shows his class

It was hard to believe that Shadow Catcher could go off at 13/2 for the Gibson Hotel Hurdle at Down Royal, having been fourth in the Grade 3 County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and he duly made a mockery of those odds.

The five-year-old gelding tanked into the race today under Davy Condon and turning into the home straight he moved clear coming to the second last. Condon kept him up to his work after the last to beat Knockcroghery (33/1) by three and a half lengths. Redera was a head further away in third at 14/1 for handler Tony Martin.

Successful trainer Gordon Elliott said: “I don’t know what happened him in Roscommon. We thought he would run well , but maybe he got too much light and pulled himself up. He came out of the race well.

“Davy said he loved that ground. It’s great to get a winner here for the Sloan’s at their local track. Davy says he has bags of ability and he can do it when he wants to.”

When asked about future engagements, Elliott commented that the Galway Hurdle would definitely be part of the plan and that he’ll be trying to get as many horses into the race.

The run at Roscommon that Elliott was referring to was in a mile and a half flat race on June 11 when Shadow Catcher weakened to finish last of eight runners, beaten 30 lengths on soft ground. Sweet My Lord went off the 9/4 market leader for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, but was tailed off in ninth of the 10 runners.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson