Anything Will Do (JJ Slevin) clear the last© Photo Healy Racing
The market may have preferred Tiger Voice (11/8 into 1/1 fav) but Anything Will Do (9/4) is a horse who has quickly acquired the winning habit, and he made just about all to land the opening W.H. Scott Lifting Rated Novice Hurdle.
A quick jump by the winner two out put the pursuing favourite under pressure when he wasn’t fluent himself, and it was Quartz Du Rheu (3/1) who emerged as a threat at the last where the winner wasn’t fluent.
JJ Slevin’s mount, by Westerner, picked up again on the run-in to score by a length and a half from Quartz De Rheu, with the favourite weakening to be a distant third at the line.
The winner didn’t run in bumpers, made a winning start over hurdles at the Listowel Festival and has added wins at Wexford and on Morgiana Hurdle day at this track before today’s fourth win of his career.
His only defeat was on his second start at Galway in October when behind Pakens Rock and subsequent winner Drop The Anchor.
"He’s improving and he’s hardy and JJ gave him a lovely simple ride, said winning trainer Joseph O'Brien.
"He’s a likeable horse and any horse that wins four in a year is a good horse.
“He tries hard and he could go for the four-year-old race at Limerick over Christmas.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee