Intellotto and Daryl Jacob© Photo Healy Racing
Catterick Bridge, Carlisle, Ayr, Limerick and Plumpton is Daryl Jacob's run into Cheltenham, and a flying visit to Greenmount Park paid off as the 'double green' retained jockey took the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Racecourse Hurdle on odds-on favourite Intellotto (2/5).
Owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir were actually doubling up here on Irish soil as Fun Fun Fun had only just taken a Grade 3 at Naas, and Jacob gave the Joseph O'Brien-trained Intellotto a lovely assured steer from the front. Karl Des Tourelles and San Guido closed up to make their cases before the straight, but Jacob knew what he had underneath him in the back in class chestnut.
He was as low as he dared at the last before going on to register a two and a half length and three parts of a length win from his previously mentioned opponents.
"He was well placed by Joseph (O'Brien) and Anthony (Bromley, owners' racing manager) and while he has gone on this softer ground, we think he'll be better on better ground. It was very heavy out there but was a nice opportunity though and he is a nice progressive horse," said Jacob.
"He was only beaten nine lengths by proper horses the last day and while he is not that level, better ground would see him in a better light. They'll have plenty of fun with him at all the spring festivals."
(TW & EM)
