Sandymount Duke battles to his hat-trick Sandymount Duke rallied well to beat Daisy's Gift and bring up his hat-trick in the three mile Ballykisteen Hotel & Golf resort Hurdle. Jessica Harrington's six-year-old gelding took the six-runner field along. He appeared to be vulnerable to Daisy's Gift who improved into second after the third last. Daisy's Gift led narrowly jumping the second last and indeed the last but on the run-in Sandymount Duke found plenty for pressure from Robbie Power and battled back to get up and win by half a length at 7/4. Robbie Power said: "We don't know how good he is as he only does enough and I'm assuming he'll run next in the two and a half mile novice hurdle at Galway. "He stays three miles, is very genuine and is improving the whole time." Daisy's Gift, for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh, went off the 5/4 favourite from an opening show of 6/4. Sandymount Duke's run of wins started at Punchestown in a maiden hurdle in June. In the same month he bagged a novice hurdle at Kilbeggan. This was the seventh winner of a golden July for Harrington. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
