Gaelic Arc and Niall Prendergast win the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle © Photo Healy Racing
Gaelic Arc followed up his recent Down Royal win with a decisive victory in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle at Clonmel.
The John Ryan trained six-year-old raced keenly in the early stages of the race but once jockey Niall Prendergast allowed him to stride on halfway down the back straight he always had manners in control.
The chasing pack closed up on the downhill run but Prendergast was only giving his horse a breather and picked up again to go away and win with something to spare. Prairie Dancer seemed ill at ease on the track so probably did well to say on for second, with Plains Indian back in third.
John Ryan said; "I couldn't believe who made that horse 14/1, it was a joke! We changed the way of riding him and he didn't come off the bridle at Down Royal, so I was wondering what I was missing - I couldn't understand it.
"He had gone off the boil after having a hard race behind American Mike last December and he loves the top of the ground. His half-brother won (Galop Marin) won four French Grade 1s.
"That chap (Prendergast) is in with me three days a week and this horse was his first winner as a conditional jockey at Down Royal. I left him on again today and it is great for him."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
