Peckham Springs wins for Paddy O'Hanlon © Photo Healy Racing
The Irish Grand National winning team of Dermot McLoughlin and Paddy O'Hanlon combined with Peckham Springs to take the Steel Lintels Ireland Ltd 10th Anniversary Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick.
A winner of a 3Y0 hurdle at Fairyhouse for previous connections, the now five-year-old had been out of form for some time but looked a different proposition here in first-time cheekpieces.
A whole host of horses held chances on the run to the final flight but as soon as O'Hanlon asked his mount to quicken, the horse shot clear of his toiling rivals.
On the evidence of this performance, the son of Gale Force Ten could be capable of following up now that he has regained confidence.
Dermot McLoughlin said: "He did it well in first-time cheekpieces. I think that is the first time he has travelled. He would run in snatches and drop himself out when it suits him. Maybe the cheekpieces lit him up a bit.
"Paddy (O'Hanlon) said he travelled all the way there and jumped well. He said he had the race put to bed at the second last. He had plenty of horse under him.
"He'll keep going for the summer, he wants good ground. We'll see can we win another with him."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
