Sixmilebridge Too Far For Derryhassen Paddy At Ayr
Sixmilebridge made a successful chasing intro in what ended up being a fascinating three-runner contest at Ayr on Wednesday.
The Play Coral "Racing-Super-Series" "Chasing Excellence" Beginners' Chase might have been short of runners, but it always promised to be an intriguing affair with Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore's Albert Bartlett third Derryhassen Paddy (5-6 preferred) handling Fergal O'Brien's Grade Two-winning hurdler.
Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's Gamesters Guy (13-2) made a good fist of being the fly in the ointment and in a race which supplied plenty of drama, all 3 looked likely at numerous stages of the home straight.
Ultimately it was 6-4 opportunity Sixmilebridge who showed the most sure-footed when it mattered most to reward connections' long trip to Scotland with their skilled chasing prospect.
O'Brien said: "He got the job done, I suppose I was a little bit dissatisfied with his jumping as he's been great in the house, but he beat an excellent horse in Lucinda's horse, so you need to be extremely delighted with him.
"A lot of credit goes to Max Kendrick who trips him at home and he's not a at home. It's good to do the job and a win under his belt."
Sixmilebridge made a fine start to chasing after at Ayr (Bradley Collyer/PA)
This triumph came by two and a half miles and Sixmilebridge was made 33-1 from 66s by Paddy Power for a go up to three miles and the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
However, O'Brien is open over which trip he might ultimately end up plying his trade.
"We haven't made too lots of strategies aside from to try to get today out of the method first," continued O'Brien.
"I'll speak with Kielan (Woods, jockey) and Mr and Mrs Megson (owners) and attempt make a plan of where to go next.
"I believe he might do either, go up in journey or hang back in trip if you wished to. Kielan stated his last four jumps were his finest 4 jumps when he was going a bit quicker."
O'Brien and Woods quickly doubled up on the card when Stop Loss claimed the Coral Novices' Hurdle at odds of 25-1.