Instant Return (centre) beats Laura Bullion (left) and Pasley (right) © Photo Healy Racing
Instant Return wasn't for passing in the four-year-old handicap hurdle at Naas this afternoon when digging deep to make all.
Paddy Kennedy jumped out in front on the Jessica Harrington-trained gelding in the race, run over just shy of two miles, and the 5/2 favourite battled well when challenged from the second last.
First Pasley threw down a challenge on the inner and then Laura Bullion came with a strong run at the final flight.
A better leap at the last gave Instant Return an advantage and he galloped on strongly on the run-in to post a length-and-a-quarter success.
Harrington said:- “Paddy said unless you ask him at the hurdles he’ll just gallop into them. As soon as you ask him he’ll jump them for fun.
“He said he was doing nothing in front but as soon as the second horse came to him he went on again.
“He’s improving and if he got into the bottom of the Boodles and the ground was soft I’d be very tempted. They will go very quick which would suit him, and he’ll stay up the hill.”
Paddy Power make the winner 16/1 from 25/1 for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle while Betfair go 20/1 from 33/1.
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
