Ejayteekay and Paul Townend © Photo Healy Racing
Ejayteekay powered home on the run-in to land the spoils in the Toalsbet Casino Handicap Hurdle at Navan for Champion Hurdle winning trainer Gavin Cromwell and Gold Cup winning jockey Paul Townend.
The complexion of the race changed at the final flight as Serious Ego blundered having travelled well to led at the previous hurdle. Sil Ver Klass soon took over on the run-in but couldn't hold the late charge of Ejayteekay, who got on top close home for a length-and-a-half success at odds of 10/1.
The daughter of Big Bad Bob had finished third, on her return from a break, at Naas last month.
Cromwell said:- “She’s always been very free but this year since she came back in has been very settled at home and relaxed in her work. Racing like that is helping her to get home.
“She’s always got through soft ground but just wouldn’t stay because she was too hard on herself. As long as the handicapper is not too hard on her she might win another one.
“We ran her once over fences and she ran well so she will probably go chasing next season.”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
