Father Jed and Bryan Cooper © Photo Healy Racing
After the reserve Kilashee won the first split, the second division of the Ballinrobe Racecourse Centenary Year Handicap Hurdle saw in-form trainer John Ryan complete a 43/1 double as Father Jed (9/2, from 9s this morning) outstayed his rivals.
The 10-year-old, down the field over fences at Killarney on Friday but a good second at this venue earlier in the month, was patiently ridden by Bryan Cooper and gradually picked off rivals to move into a closing third approaching the final flight. Stolen Moment was in with every chance in second when blundering and unseating rider at the last and, after straightening up for home, the winner found plenty under his twelve stone impost to get past the 4/1 favourite Let Her Flow with five lengths the margin of victory in the end.
Yet to win over fences, this was a fifth success over hurdles for the gelding by Kutub.
Winning trainer John Ryan’s great run of form shows no sign of stopping, and this was winner number twenty-four of the season for the Templemore handler.
Ryan said: “That horse won here a few years back and his previous owner Pat Morrissey gave him to my daughter Gillian for small money as she loves him.
“That pays us back now and it’s a great win. Both riders were very good. Shane gave the mare (Kilashee) a lovely ride and Bryan was magical on this horse.
“He’s an aged horse and everything off him now is a bonus. That’s a sweet win. The Morrissey family are great supporters of mine and Pat still takes him home to his place for the winter.
“Gillian is my assistant trainer and a big part of our team. She does a lot of the placing of the horses. Isabel is going back to school now and is a great girl as well.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
