Brideswell Lad (left) & Our Bobby jump the last together© Photo Healy Racing
Brideswell Lad recorded his sixth career success in the Download The Boylesports App Handicap Hurdle, justifying plenty of market support under Sean O'Keeffe.
Rated all of 31lbs higher over fences, the Seamus Neville trained seven-year-old won a Grade B contest at the Punchestown Festival in April and was last seen finishing sixth in the Galway Blazers.
Available at 8/1 in early shows for this two-and-a-half mile contest, the Shirocco gelding eventually went off the 11/4 favourite in the colours of Neville's wife Ina.
Settled in second by Sean O'Keeffe, he was pushed along on the approach to two out and soon got on terms, edging to the front on the run-in before going on to prevail by half-a-length.
The front-running Our Bobby (7/2) was a gallant second under Niall Moore for John Burke, while Sea Road Fil (11/1) was just a length-and-a-half away in third, with Phillip Enright aboard this Edward O'Grady trained bay.
"He had a decent mark over hurdles compared to his chase one. He is probably a better horse over fences but it's nice to pick up another hurdle," Neville commented.
"We were a little bit disappointed with him at Galway, we thought he might run a bit better there but he didn't run too badly.
"He will probably go back over fences now and we will look to Listowel to see what is available for him there.
"He might not get into the Kerry National off a mark of 132, but we might put him in there anyway and see what happens.
"There is a race on the Saturday there over two-mile-six (the Charlie Chute Memorial Handicap Chase) and we will probably look at that for him, we will see."
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