Philip Rothwell trainer of Bottle Rattler© Photo Healy Racing
After winning a bumper on his debut here on this card last year, Bottle Rattler recorded his first win since, taking the Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle under Mark Walsh for Philip Rothwell.
The five-year-old son of Gamut went hurdling straight after his bumper success, finishing well beaten on his first sixth attempts over flights.
He put in a much improved performance at Sligo on his last outing, finishing eight and three parts of a length fourth to King High.
He was 7/2 last night with Paddy Power, but drifted out to 9/2 this morning, opening on-course at 6/1 before going off a 5/1 chance.
Fitted with cheekpieces for the first time this afternoon, he chased the leaders for much of the contest, before he improved into second at the second last.
He was soon ridden, but he kept on best under pressure on the run-in, going on to score by four lengths at the line. Jamsie Hall for Gordon Elliott and Keith Donoghue, was sent off the 2/1 favourite, and he hit the front after the fourth last, but he couldn’t hold off the challenge of the winner on the run-in and he had to settle for second. The Amarillo Kid ran a nice race to finish third, but with the defection of Lancing (coughing) only seven went to post, so just the first two counted for each-way backers.
Philip Rothwell said afterwards: "I’m delighted with that. I was hoping he would be successful in Sligo and I was a bit disappointed when he wasn’t.
"We put cheekpieces on him to liven him up a bit and he travelled better today.
"Mark was great on him, he jumped great today, he missed the second last in Sligo the last day.
"That’s his second time running the McManus colours and I’ll speak to Frank Berry about where he will go next.
"He won his bumper on this card last year but hopefully it’s not another twelve months before he wins again!
"The staff have done a wonderful job with the track today."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
