Ceanndana and Keith Donoghue jump the last to win the Ivo O'Sullivan Memorial Handicap Hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
Ceanndana made it back-to-back wins for trainer Ross O'Sullivan when following up his recent Downpatrick win in the Ivo O'Sullivan Snr Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Killarney.
The six-year-old gelding, who was tasting victory for the first time in 12 starts when easily seeing off the opposition at the Northern Ireland track, had to work much harder to add to that tally here.
Keith Donoghue always had the son of Leading Light in a prominent position just off the leaders Naturally Blond and Willie Bob before coming through to take over in front before the second last.
However, he faced a strong challenge from eventual runner-up Hard Target from the back of the last hurdle, finding plenty for pressure to hold that horse by half-a-length.
Ross O’Sullivan said: “He’s after hitting form. When he won last week I said he’s a 0-95 horse. He carried a 7lb penalty and stayed in the grade.
“He’ll find it harder when he gets out of the grade but it’s great to win two races with him. He probably handles even nicer ground than he had today.
“They are a great bunch of lads that own him. They have him two years and have stood the test of time. It’s great to have owners that enjoy it that much. They got down here by planes, trains and automobiles and most of them are staying the night.
“He also has the scope to jump a fence so he might go that route as well.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
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