Ciankyle and Mark Bolger © Photo Healy Racing
The Pro Glide Mower Range Handicap Hurdle saw Ciankyle gain a fifth victory in handicap hurdles at odds of 20/1 in the hands of Mark Bolger.
The winner got a nice run around the inner and came through to lead before the last. He was pursued from there to the line by Sargent Lightfoot (17/2), who was checked when trying to improve his position after the second-last, and Ciankyle held the slightly unfortunate runner-up by half a length. Trees Valley (5/2) set a good pace but had no more to give when headed before the final flight and finished a further 12 lengths back in third, while the 2/1 favourite Helier’s Bay was eighth.
The successful Mountain High gelding has been a grand summer hurdler for owner-breeder Hugh Calvey as well as Bolger, who’s ridden him to all five wins.
This was his first time to score off a three figure mark (100) and was the third time the 9-year-old has won at 20/1 or bigger.
Winning trainer Peter Cluskey said: “When he ran in Sligo we’d lost a week (work-wise) beforehand and we knew coming here he was as good as we could have him.”
“We’re happy with that and he’s been a good old servant."
Winning rider Bolger added: “I thought the rain-softened ground might be against him bu he handled it well. It’s lovely ground.
"He usually front runs but I couldn’t get to the front with the pace they were going.
"I had a great run around and probably ended up getting there too soon. I always though he’d hold on but he didn’t have a lot left.
"He’s handicapped over fences as well and that could be an option.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
