Winning spare for O'Regan on Santana Plessis Santana Plessis (11/4 jt fav) certainly knows his way around Kilbeggan and landed the Forever Equestrian Rated Novice Hurdle in the hands of substitute rider Denis O’Regan. A course bumper winner last year and three times runner-up over hurdles at this venue during the summer, the French-bred travelled well for O’Regan (filling in for the sidelined Davy Russell who will be out for some time after a fall at Limerick yesterday) and hit the front before the final flight. From there he was pushed out to beat the staying-on Funky Dady (9/1) by three and three quarter lengths, with the the front-running Broomfields Jeremy (the other 11/4 jt fav) back in third. Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: “In fairness he's a long time waiting for that and Denis gave him a great ride. “Now that we can get back into England I'd say he might win a novice hurdle over there. “I thought the ground might be too soft for him but it was grand. “He's a big horse and he'll jump a fence in time.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
