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Cork hero Derrinross set for Limerick at Christmas

DerrinrossDerrinross
© Photo Healy Racing

Limerick is next on the agenda for Derrinross after he made an impressive winning return to action at Cork on Sunday.

Philip Dempsey’s charge was still a maiden over timber when lining up in the Grade Three Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle, but produced a powerful front-running performance to land the spoils.

The Scorpion gelding was making his first outing since last December, and Dempsey is hoping he now gets a clear run with the seven-year-old, who has had his training issues.

“There’s not a bother on him and he came out of it well,” said Dempsey, whose charge was ridden by his son, Luke.

“He’ll probably go to Limerick over Christmas for the Grade Two over three miles. That’s probably the next port of call.

“We gave him an entry in the Grade One Lawlor’s Hotel Novice at Naas, but I’d imagine Limerick will be next and we’ll see how he copes with the next step up there.

“He’s been mixing it with good horses all along and his form was rock solid. We just couldn’t get a run.

“We couldn’t keep him sound and it would have broke your heart, but touch wood this year it’s been good, plain sailing with him, so fingers crossed.

“Hopefully we can get a run with him now. He’s a big horse and hopefully he can fill into himself.

“I’d imagine this year we’ll stay hurdling with him.

“Long-term, hopefully he’s a chaser. He has plenty of schooling done and he won his point-to-point.

“We were going to go chasing this year, but with the ground the way it was we had to rethink.”