Solomon Grundy and Jamie Scallan lead home Winged Leader and Barry O'Neill© Photo Healy Racing
The 2021 BoyleSports Tetratema Cup Hunters Chase will live long in the memory for Jamie Scallan, as he recorded his first track success aboard Solomon Grundy.
Previously trained by David Pipe, Neil Mulholland and latterly Henry de Bromhead, the eleven-year-old gelding won three times in the UK and ran some excellent races in defeat in valuable handicaps.
Successful on his first start for Sean Doyle at Tattersalls in October, the son of Westerner then followed-up at Damma House.
Fifth and third behind Billaway on his next two runs, he was fitted with a hood for the first time this afternoon and sent off a 4/1 chance in the colours of Roger Brookhouse.
Having raced in a close second throughout, the bay victor improved to lead before the third last and kept on well from before the final fence, going on to record a comfortable five-and-a-half length success. Winged Leader returned the 9/4 favourite from 10/3, finished second under Barry O'Neill, while the front-running On The Sod was another thirteen lengths back in third. Bellow Mome who was as short as 6/5 in early shows, eventually went off a 5/1 chance and he finished fourth under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.
Scallan, who is twenty-four and from Wexford, said: "I've ridden 16 point-to-point winners and that’s my first on the track. I’ve been with Sean the last three years and he's very loyal to me to be fair to him.
"The last day in Naas he pulled very hard and today we put the hood on him and he settled well. He jumps great and loves the heavy ground."
Doyle added: "Jamie got a great education with the late William Codd. Jack Hendrick and himself came up to work for us and they are both after having their first winners on the track. They have plenty of point-to-point experience and are two chaps that are going in the right direction.
"I was nearly going to Cheltenham with this horse. He was in great form coming here after a good run in Naas and I thought he'd improved from it.
"He's owned by Roger Brookhouse and could go to Aintree. If not he'll go to Punchestown."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
