Named after Muhammad Ali, Louisville Lip showed plenty of ability without winning on the level but the big son of Orpen is going to be a different proposition at the jumping game as he showed when causing a 20/1 surprise in the W.T.O'Grady Memorial Hurdle under David Casey at Thurles.
Winning trainer Pat Flynn described Louisville Lip as a huge horse, that is well over 16.2 and weighs in at about 520kg in a stable tour last June. He also said that he'd be a better horse with another year under his belt and that he could make a lovely dual purpose horse in time. He is likely to be proved right on that score on today's evidence.
Travelling well under Casey, Louisville Lip assumed control from before the final flight where he pecked slightly and he went on to prevail by two and a half lengths from Maxim Gorky High-profile recruit to hurdling, Table Mountain could only manage eighth place.
Flynn said: "I rate this horse very highly – I really love him. Danny (Grant) said we shouldn't have been running him on the flat last year as he is such a big horse.
"He schooled well but you never know until they get to the track to run over hurdles. He blew up today but he still won. He'll go for the Grade 1 (Spring Juvenile Hurdle) at Leopardstown on Hennessy Day (Sunday February 6th)."
Stan James introduced Louisville Lip at 40/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
