Wither Hills makes long journey pay off Northern raider Brian Hamilton unleashed Wither Hills off a break of 390 days to gamely land the two mile handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan under Liam McKenna. It’s not often a horse coming off such an absence will successfully make all, but that’s exactly what the seven-year-old did. He was returned 6/1 co favourite of three. Never A Secret set off in pursuit, but couldn’t quite get to the winner and was still three parts of a length in arrears at the winning post. She had been nicely backed from 20/1 this morning down to an SP of 12/1. “He was off for a while and then ran in Fairyhouse last year. He unseated and galloped round the track and came back with a touch of a leg. That knocked him for the rest of the campaign and he got stem cell treatment,” Brian Hamilton said. “The owners have been very patient with him. It was more yielding than soft here and that suited us. He was given a good positive ride. The handicapper dropped him seven pounds and the wee man’s claim was beneficial. “The owners would like to have a run in Galway. I’ve five or six horses to run over the summer.” Luimneach Abu, in the JP McManus colours, looked as if he was going to get competitive but a bad mistake at the third last stopped him in his tracks and he duly came in fifth. Jim Culloty’s Brave Soldier completed the placings in third at 11/1. However he was beaten almost 17 lengths. When Brian Hamilton was asked about Big Vincey’s chance in the bumper tonight at 8.20 he replied: “The ground was quick enough for him last time and he made two mistakes at vital parts of the race [unplaced at Limerick on April 7]. “Round here might suit him and no hurdles in the way suits!” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
