'Exciting horse' Banbridge seals hat-trick Joseph O'Brien's Banbridge brought up his hat-trick in the rated novice hurdle at Roscommon. The five-year-old gelding had landed a Killarney bumper and a maiden hurdle in Punchestown. He was up in trip to an extended two miles four and faced five rivals as Buddy Rich was a significant non runner. JJ Slevin sent him into the lead from The Little Yank with over a circuit to race and the pair dominated proceedings. The even-money favourite had too much in his locker for the 10/3 runner-up as he put him away on the run-in by four and three quarter lengths. Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: “JJ said it was a bit of a tactical race and he'd probably be better with a stronger gallop and a lead. “He jumps, he stays and he gallops. He'd want better ground but he coped with that so it can't be too bad out there. “He's an exciting horse and Joseph might look at something in Galway for him. “He'll make a lovely chaser. He's going the right way and he's won his last three now. “He had a good grounding in point-to-pointing and he had some good form pointing. He's exciting for the owners going forward.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
