Trainer/rider Denis Hogan can do little wrong at present and following on from the dual Limerick success of Drive On Jim and the Cork win of Kylebeg Krystle, the Tipperary-man was at it again when steering Slippers Percy to a surprise victory in the opening Devil's Bit Beginners Chase at Thurles.
Always to the fore, Slippers Percy, a nine-year-old maiden with a starting price of 33/1, saw off the strongly-backed favourite Arabella Boy from before the final fence and then inevitably survived a steward's enquiry (Denis Hogan got banned for a day for careless riding & for a day for excessive use of the whip). Slippers Percy prevailed by four and a half lengths, there was the same distance back to another 33/1 shot in Paddy The Oscar whilst Ballyvoile couldn't raise his effort when it mattered and ended up in fourth.
Hogan said: "He showed toughness today. I didn't want to go for him too soon but when I grabbed a fresh hold of him he went on again. He beat a highly-rated horse today and we'll have to see what the handicapper does now. He might have to go the novice route but that wouldn't be the end of the world."
At an improvement in form enquiry Hogan said that Slippers Percy benefited from the step-up in trip and getting an uncontested lead helped him return to form.
Both the Willie Mullins-trained runners here, Otay Kawn and For The Staff were reported by their riders to have made respiratory noises.
