Snake Oil draws sting from his rivals off the front

Snake Oil made most to justify odds-on quotes for the second split of the 2m4f maiden hurdle on Fairyhouse's card.

He raced prominently under Sean Flanagan and moved on after the second flight. Glenglass was the main pursuer and cut into the lead three out where both horses were less than tidy.

Jack Kennedy got after Glenglass approaching two out and the pair had Snake Oil in their sights, however, Snake Oil found more coming to the last and stayed on best on the run-in.

The well-backed 8/13 favourite passed the post four lengths to the good from Glenglass (13/2). Western Walk was 17 lengths adrift in third at 14/1 from 22s.

“It was nice to get that out of the way, on his Naas run he was entitled to win,” said trainer Barry Connell.

“He was out for about 12 months with niggles. It's not ideal to be winning your maiden hurdle at this time of year. He's a chaser long term.

“I'm going to chance keeping him on the go. If we got a wet period during the summer there is a rated novice in Roscommon and then we could go to Galway.

“He'll go chasing then in the autumn. It's not ideal going out doing your own donkey work. He actually jumped well on the whole, I think he missed the second last when he was just idling.

“He's a classy kind of horse and we've always liked him. He had a few niggly issues but he's a seven-year-old now and a big strong horse so hopefully we get a clear run with him.

“He wouldn't want it any quicker than that, it's lovely ground today.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson