Siberian Star and James O'Sullivan (right) lead runner-up Bronson In Blue over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Tinahely trainer Philip Rothwells’s good run of form continued as Siberian Star (13/2 into 4/1 favourite, and available at 20/1 this morning) landed a touch in the Equine Products UK Handicap Hurdle.
Patiently ridden by James O’Sullivan (ninth winner of the campaign), the Sulamani 6-year-old, winning for the first time after being placed in three of his previous 12 hurdle starts, made smooth headway from the second-last and got a lovely split between horses before the final flight.
He went away on the run-in to beat Bronson In Blue (5/1) by two and three quarter length. Satin Sun (22/1) and I Don’t Get It (33/1) were the others to make the frame.
Winning trainer Philip Rothwell said: “I'm really thrilled. Joseph Germaine heads the (Scrub A Dub Dub) syndicate that owns him and he owns a local pub in Baltinglass, down near home.
“He's been a huge supporter of mine over the past ten years and pretty much every horse I've had for him has won.
“There were probably one or two doubters about this lad early on but we couldn't race him last summer because there was no racing.
“He's been running through the winter on heavy and I said to Joe coming up here today that I'd find it very hard to see him getting beat.
“Three miles on good ground was the secret. James has rode him a few times on heavy and even he thought he might struggle today but I was very confident that once we got this ground he was going to put up a big performance.
“We'll keep him on the go into the summer and he might even jump a fence someday. Today was great.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
