Shumaker could be Down Royal bound now with hat-trick bagged Paul Traynor’s Shumaker is in irresistible form at present and he brought up the hat-trick in the IRIS Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Wexford. Darragh O’Keeffe, aboard when the Whitmore’s Conn gelding began the sequence at Fairyhouse on October 12th, took the reins on the chestnut again. The 9/10 favourite took over from front-running Crazyheart into the straight. That market-rival rallied to a degree from before the last but Shumaker had his measure by three and a half lengths at the line. “I'm delighted. I wasn't sure about the ground,” said Traynor. “Darragh said he was a real wee warrior. He didn't like the ground but travelled away great, jumped well and got a lovely lead around. He battled away to the line and kept going. “There is a good race in Down Royal for him but it depends on the weather and we'll see how he is tomorrow. “It was a good trip down here for us, it took about four hours, and that eases the journey home.” (GC & EM)
