Waiting rides, on heavy ground, don’t come much better than trainer/jockey Denis Hogan’s ride on his Drive On Jim who completed a hat-trick of wins in the www.tote.com Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse today.
Hogan moved Drive On Jim into a prominent position before the straight and although the son of Alderbrook came under pressure from two out, Hogan held a little in reserve for the run-in. Drive On Jim eventually hit top gear where it matters most, getting to the front close home for a narrow win over Supreme Builder
Afterwards Hogan stated “I thought the leading pair would come back to me but they kept at it well and Drive On Jim had to really grind it out to win. He will go back chasing now.”
The win was Hogan’s eighth success, from limited runners, since taking out his trainer’s license over a year ago while the win was also his 13th winner of the season as a jockey.
Leaders Koshere King and Toomdeely appeared to take the wrong course at the third last flight (an 'island' hurdle) and were immediately pulled up having mistakenly ‘bypassed’ that obstacle on the inner.
Thomas Weekes
