Ishan clears the last under Phillip Enright© Photo Healy Racing
Ishan made it five from six for favourite backers at Limerick this afternoon, as he justified strong market support in the Panoramic Restaurant At Limerick Races Handicap Hurdle.
Available at 7/1 in early shows for this two-mile five-furlong contest, the Sam Curling-trained five-year-old eventually went off the clear 2/1 favourite in the colours of Pius Collins.
Settled behind the leaders on the outer by Phillip Enright, the French bred victor took closer order on the approach to the straight and soon disputed the lead.
He gained an outright advantage before two out and readily stretched clear, despite jumping to his right at the final two flights, going on to score easily by nine-and-a-half lengths.
The second choice of punters, He Fitz In (4/1) filled the runner-up spot under Shane O'Callaghan, while the front-running Blackjack Boy (33/1) was another three-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.
"He did it well. The step up in trip was a big help and he likes that soft ground. He didn't jump great on his first couple of runs back this year but slow ground suits him," Curling revealed.
"He's a low grade type of horse but we'll keep tipping away with him and he'll go back over fences at some stage."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
