Happy Jacky and Darragh O'Keeffe are clear of Ice Cold Soul (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Five came out of the the MansionBet Proud To Support Irish Racing Handicap Hurdle because of the soft ground and it was Happy Jacky (7/2) who handled conditions best for a seven length win from front-running Ice Cold Soul
The Milan gelding jumped and travelled well in behind the leaders before hitting the front before two out. Clear down to the last, Darragh O’Keeffe was able to put him into the bottom of it to make sure of no mishaps. The Trigger rsquo;s winning run came to an end as he finished an honourable fourth, but it looked like 5/2 favourite Bread And Butter didn’t enjoy the surface and he was pulled up.
The winner had been chasing the last twice after winning a couple of handicap hurdles last year, including a wide margin win on soft ground at Ballinrobe.
Winning trainer Ray Hackett said: “He didn't jump fluently over fences but his second run was a good run. Back over hurdles today he jumped himself into it and travelled and he handles summer soft.
"I'll probably leave fences alone until next season and give him the full season as a novice hurdler so we'll tip away and see what we can pick up with him.
"He is a nice horse to have in the yard and we gave him a bit of a break with the intention for having him ready for Leopardstown at Christmas, so today is a stepping stone towards that."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
