Jetson is driven out by Paddy Kennedy to beat Thunder And Roses© Photo Healy Racing
Jetson bounced back to his best as he took the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier, scoring under Paddy Kennedy for Jessica Harrington.
The nine-year-old son of Oscar, who finished third in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham last March, disappointed on a number of occasions towards the end of last year, but he ran a much better race at Gowran last time out, finishing third to Mala Beach in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle.
Available at 20/1 with Paddy Power this morning, the bay gelding opened at 14/1 on-course, the price which he went off at.
Prominent in fifth at the halfway stage, Jetson was ridden into third entering the straight, and he stayed on well away from the last, hitting the front on run-in and keeping on well in the closing stages to win by a length. Thunder And Roses who was sent off the 4/1 joint-favourite, hit the front before the last, but he couldn't respond to the winners challenge, and he had to settle for second under Bryan Cooper for Dessie Hughes. Inis Meain was doing his best work towards the finish, and he took third at 10/1 under Danny Mullins for Denis Hogan, while Festive Felon who was prominent throughout, was a further neck back in fourth at 16/1 under Paul Carberry for Noel Meade. Clonard Lad for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh (two pound overweight), was the other joint-favourite and he finished back in sixth.
Jessica Harrington said afterwards: "He won the qualifier at Leopardstown two years but then didn't get into the race at Cheltenham. Hopefully he will get into this year.
"The lighter weight and Paddy's five pound claim made a big difference today as he is only a small horse and it will be the same plan as last year, Cheltenham, Aintree and Haydock."
The winner, who is a half-brother to Jezki, is available at 14/1 with Boylesports for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
