Shinnick opens his account over fences on Kalli's Quest

John Shinnick and Terence O’Brien successfully teamed up for the second time in 48 hours as Kalli’s Quest came out on top in the Navan Members Veterans Handicap Chase.

The pair were on the mark with the well-backed Truckers Angel at Clonmel on Thursday and the market again proved a good guide to Kalli’s Quest, available at 28/1 overnight and sent off at 11/1.

The ten-year-old Kalanisi mare, who returned from three years on the sidelines last November, travelled smoothly to lead before two out but was joined by Definite Plan on the run-in.

However, Shinnick’s mount dug deep in the closing stages to prevail by a neck, with 100/30 favourite Sir Bob a length and a quarter back in third.

Shinnick, who was riding his first winner over fences, said: "She was electric going around and had her ears pricked. She was taking me all the way.

“Coming to the last I took a hold of her to make sure she'd jump it. She jumped the last and battled well to the line.

“Her jumping has been a little bit iffy but the bottom weight today definitely helped her, she knew there was only a fly on her back!”

Quotes by Gary Carson