Ridestan had little to recommend in four previous outings but some market confidence this morning proved right on the money as the 12/1 chance took the St Patrick’s Well Maiden Hurdle in great style at Clonmel.

Trained and ridden by Denis Hogan, the Linngari gelding was backed from 18/1 into half those odds earlier in the day although the gamble was not continued on track.

Hogan sent him past the front-running Thefiddlerofduneen approaching the straight, and was in control from before the last to beat 15/8 favourite Reflet Ambre by an easy seven and a half lengths. Sinour was a further five and a half lengths back in third.

Hogan said, “Conor Hoban advised me to buy him last autumn. He’s a good judge, and hopefully I’ll be able to put him up on the horse at some stage. The owners could have a bit of fun out of him over the summer.

“When we bought him he was a bit weak and we put him away over the winter. The ground was too heavy at Navan (only previous hurdle run) and the trip was probably a bit sharp on his last Flat run in a good race at Tipperary.

“He’s been working well and he loves jumping. He’ll probably mix it between hurdles and the Flat.”

(TW & AM)