Torygraph wins under Jack Kennedy, racing on from Fighter Allen and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
The W.T. O'Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle has a decent roll of honour and 2021 likely saw another smart scorer in the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Gordon Elliott-trained Torygraph at Thurles.
We had an 11/8 market-leader, followed by 9/4 and 5/2 shots, a small field completed by an 18/1 outsider for this stamina test.
Best equipped with staying power for the two mile seven furlong assignment proved to be Jack Kennedy’s mount, the progressive Torygraph.
The 9/4 victor doubled up after a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle win from last month, beating the maiden mare Angels Dawn (28s into 18s) by three and three parts of a length.
Torygraph is 12/1 from 20/1 (non runner no bet) for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham with Paddy Power.
"He is a lovely horse and has improved from Fairyhouse. He is a lazy oul horse and you have to keep him up to his work but he does his best work at the business end of things,” said Kennedy.
"To look at, he is not your typical big massive staying horse but he is definitely more effective over a longer trip."
At the request of the Stewards, Rachael Blackmore, rider of Heather Rocco trained by Henry de Bromhead, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that her mount leaned left throughout.
(TW & EM)
