Treble for Walsh on Sure Reef

Ruby Walsh completed a treble at Leopardstown today when steering an unorthodox course on Sure Reef winner of the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle, thus completing a double on the day for Hurricane Fly s trainer Willie Mullins.

Mullins and Walsh had earlier combined to win the Irish Champion Hurdle with Hurricane Fly but Sure Reef's win gained in unusual style, having dropped to last, and seemingly out of contention, at the second last flight.

However, Sure Reef quickened well in the straight, and under a wily ride from Walsh, managed to edge ahead in the closing stages for a three parts of a length win over Moonshine Lad

Afterwards Mullins stated “he (Sure Reef) was very free and I was a little bit worried about him but Ruby decided to take him back and pull him out a bit and give him a breather.

“Ruby felt he couldn't continue to run a race (racing keenly) so he wanted to fill his lungs. He took a chance coming on the outside and it worked, but it wasn't Plan A!

“He's a fair sort and did a fantastic bit of work during the week; he's still a bit heavy and that tells me there's huge improvement in him and Ruby said he stays all day. However the worry about running in a race like the Albert Bartlett (at Cheltenham) is that he might be too keen.

“He's a horse I would love to go back to the Flat with at some stage.”

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson