Thegondolier causes 33/1 shock Thegondolier sprang a 33/1 shock when running away with the Killinan 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle at Thurles. Alan Crowe's mount wasn't too clever at the first but hit the front at the second flight and jumped well at the head of affairs. The Captain Rio gelding poached a few lengths at the second last and quickened well when asked for an effort before the final flight. Patrick Prendergast's charge was untidy at the last but it didn't stop his momentum as he galloped on strongly for a eight-length victory. 9/10 favourite Solaras Exhibition stayed on to take second without ever looking like troubling Thegondolier . The winner is owned by Prendergast's mother Maura and hadn't shown much on his debut over timber at Punchestown. "He's got loads of speed. He won a claimer at Sligo that turned out to be a right claimer," said the winning handler. "He jumped a bit stupid on his own at Punchestown. I'm hoping he might be a horse for the big three-year-old race at Leopardstown over Christmas. "He might go for that if he's not sold in the meantime."
