Solution romps to an easy success

Sizing Solution turned what looked a competitive contest into a rout as he ran out an easy winner of the Dawn Hi Lo Milk Handicap Hurdle, scoring under Davy Russell for Jim Dreaper.

The six-year-old son of King's Theatre finished fifth in this contest last year and he has since been campaigned solely over fences, winning a point-to-point at Stradbally in May while finishing second on his three racecourse starts.

Back over flights this afternoon he was sent off the 9/2 joint-favourite and was settled in mid-division.

He took closer order and improved into fourth after four out and came with his challenge at the second last.

He was ridden to lead on the approach to the last and while he wasn’t fluent at that flight he stretched clear on the run-in to score easily by nine and a half lengths. Jabus ran a nice race to finish second at 12/1 under Robbie Colgan for Pat Martin while The Fitz Lady (25/1) kept on well to take third a further three parts of a length back for her rider/trainer Eoin McCarthy.

The Matthew Smith trained Progenitor came in for plenty of support this morning (16’s to 8’s before going off at 10’s) and he completed the placing a further two lengths back in fourth under John Tobin. Patrolman was the other joint-favourite but he pulled up early appearing to be injured.

Jim Dreaper said afterwards: "As a young horse we though he was a real horse. He won his point-to-point very impressively but then he developed wind trouble.

"He was off a lower mark today and it worked. He settled well as normally he can be a bit free. I’m not sure where he’ll go now but as they say that was the plan."

Owners Ann and Alan Potts were present for the success, their second winner of the four day Festival after Fort George scored on Tuesday.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee