Shawshank jumps the last© Photo Healy Racing
Shawshank atoned for previous 'sins' at Wexford today as the Paul Nolan trained gelding justified 13/8 favouritism to win the Slaney Maiden Hurdle under jockey Bryan Cooper.
The dual point-to-point winner finished down-the-field in three chase runs last season, which qualified him as the star act for the unplaced-horses' maiden hurdle at today's venue on May 22.
Then, and with the race almost in safe keeping, Shawshank jumped the second last flight six lengths clear but then dramatically veered right and unseated jockey Bryan Cooper.
Today the son of Presenting was better behaved on his return to the track and having gone clear of his rivals entering the home straight, Cooper steered him home safely, albeit with some gentle cajoling, for an easy 11 lengths win over Fire Away
Nolan today stated "we don't know what happened him the last day, maybe it was the big screen that caught his eye. Sometimes the big screen can change and flash and maybe it was that. He is in no way cowardly and is a very good jumper.
"From doing nothing only jumping fences, he went over hurdles like he was a professional and I was delighted with how he hurdled the last day and he never missed a beat today.
"We'll see what rating he gets as well and we won't get carried away."
He added “the last race he ran in here was bad but the horses today had a bit more form and I like the way he put the race away today.
"He had been a bit disappointing over fences to a certain degree and we were going to go straight over fences with him now, but we'll look at the calendar for some hurdle races over 2m4f to 3m. There could be a few novice hurdles to be picked up with him before he goes back over fences.
“Bryan was very pleased with the way he quickened up again coming down the hill and went away.”
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American film which regularly ranks highly on lists of favourite films.
Quotes from Donal Murphy
