Alpha Ridge put up a big performance for a novice when making all in the Grade 2 Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle with Davy Russell in the plate to replace Paul Carberry, who suffered a fall at home yesterday.
The 7/1 shot held the strong finishing Whatuthink by a length with thirteen lengths back to the 6/4 favourite, Shakervilz who made mistakes at the last two.
In the colours of local owner, Jim Mernagh, Alpha Ridge had looked a serious prospect when trouncing his rivals in graded company at Cork. He then proved no match at Navan for Pandorama.
Winning trainer, Paul Nolan said: "I didn't like him in Navan, he was a bit flat. We brought him back nice and fresh for this which I thought might have been a bit too good a race for him but there seemed to be no real excuses. He went a nice consistent gallop on terrible ground and he'll go now for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham all being well."
Cashmans cut Alpha Ridge from 40/1 into 14/1 for that contest on the Friday of the Festival. (EM)
