Consistent Lad strikes again Off a career high mark of 104, Presenting Lad recorded his second win of the summer, claiming the Cummins Homevalue Hardware Handicap Hurdle. Successful at Roscommon last month and third on two starts since, the seven-year-old was sent off a 9/2 chance (from 11/2) in the colours of the Presenting The Lads Syndicate. Given a patient ride by Daniel King, the Mark McNiff-trained bay improved through the field from four out and was poised to challenge in third on the run to the last. Ridden on the outer over a furlong from home, he soon got to the front and kept on well in the closing stages, coming home a length-and-three-quarters to the good. The well-supported Listentillitellyea (7/1 from 20s early) had to settle for second under Darragh O'Keeffe for Tom Gibney, while top-weight Charcor (11/2) was eight-and-a-half lengths back in third. Returned the 4/1 favourite, Only One Plan was another half-a-length away in fourth. "He only ran last week in Cork but Mark had him spot on and he filled me with confidence going out there," King said. "I got a dream run into it and got a lovely lead down to the last. I was in a little tight to it but, once I gathered him up again, he galloped all the way to the line. "I suppose my claim was a help but Mark is a very good trainer and when he tells you that they're ready to go, he's nearly always right. "This lad has to be ridden with patience and, when they went hard up front, I was always confident that they were going to come back to me which they did and he was good to the line." Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
