Shot From The Hip bounces back to his best

Shot From The Hip who is Grade 1 winner over hurdles, bounced back to his best as he took the feature at Killarney this evening, the Grade C Ladbrokes Handicap Chase.

Ridden by Mark Walsh and trained by Edward O’Grady, the nine-year-old son of Monsun hadn’t been seen since finishing seventh to Mr Cracker in a handicap chase at Listowel in June.

He won a novice chase over the course and distance in May of 2012, and he was sent off at 14/1 this evening.

He chased the leaders for much of the race, and he travelled well in second at the fourth last fence, as Save My Blushes continued out in front.

The winner was pushed along to close on the leader entering the straight, and he was ridden to challenge after the second last.

The JP McManus owned victor got to the front before the last, and he kept on well on the run-in to score by eight and a half lengths. Another Ambition came through to take second at 7/1 under Tony Martin for Danny Mullins, while Save My Blushes (20/1) was a length back in third under trainer/rider Denis Hogan. Go All The Way and Toner D’Oudairies were sent off the 11/2 joint-favourites, but both disappointed, the former finishing seventh under Andrew Lynch, while the latter pulled up under Davy Russell.

Edward O'Grady said afterwards: "Maybe he wanted better ground and I took him out of Galway because the ground went against him.

"Hopefully we will find something at Listowel for him now and I think he will stay further. He got a very good ride."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee