Artist keeps up the gallop

Rapid Artist put up a good staying performance to land the Coolmore N.H. Sires Hunters Steeplechase. Only seven of the twenty that set out completed and the winner beat Outlaw Pete by nineteen lengths.

Rapid Artist (33s in the morning into 14/1, paid €41.10 on Tote) had fallen on his last two starts (including a very heavy fall at Clonmel) but there was no such problems here as he led seven out and kept up the gallop up the straight under Barry 'Bon' O'Neill.

Winning trainer, Wexford man Liam Kenny handles the seven-year-old son of Rudimentary for Michael Sinnott from Carnew Co. Wicklow and he said: "I couldn't believe he was such a price as he was second when he fell at Clonmel and he was moving into third when he fell at Fairyhouse.

"He likes the auld muck and a beginners chase will be the route he'll go now I'd say."