Millieann leads the field early on with eventual winner Saint Gervais in seventh on the outside.© Photo Healy Racing
The well backed 15/8 favourite Saint Gervais (4/1 this morning, opened on course at 11/4) made it two wins on the trot as he took the Follow us on Twitter Handicap Hurdle for John Kiely with Andrew McNamara in the saddle.
The 7yo son of Revoque won two bumpers in impressive fashion last year but then disappointed as he failed to score on his first three efforts over hurdles.
However he got it right last time out at Clonmel where he came home an easy four and a half length winner of his maiden hurdle and he follow up today on his first start in handicap company.
Having racing in mid-division for much of the two miles, he made his move to track the leaders before the third last.
He hit the front before the last and stayed on well from there to score by a comfortable length and a half at the line.
Ruby Walsh filled the runner-up spot for the third time in as many race aboard the Adrian Maguire trained Anshan Dream at 10/1 while the Christy Roche trained mare Rowanville Lady ran well to take third a further length back under Alan Crowe at 16/1.
Winning trainer John Kiely said afterwards: "Andrew kept him out wide on the better ground and he was travelling all the way. It was definitely a benefit that he kept wide.
"I thought the ground might be too soft for him but it’s not deep it’s slushy."
Donal Murphy & Alan Magee
