Auld Brig loves a hurdle

Auld Brig showed an aptitude for jumping when landing the first three-year-old maiden hurdle of the season in Roscommon.

The Holy Roman Emperor gelding was ridden behind the leaders coming to two out and stormed to the head of affairs before the last.

He was driven out on the run-in by Conor Brassil to score by two and a quarter lengths at 14/1. Trespassed who was popular during the day from 9/1 to 5/1, took second-place money at 9/2. He was a neck in front of 40/1 shot Mizen Master Birthplace the 6/4 favourite, made a bad blunder at the last when in contention for a place. He came to a virtual standstill after that and finished ninth.

“He showed me nothing on the Flat and Conor said to me last January he would start schooling him and get him ready for the first three-year-old hurdle,” handler Martin Brassil said.

“He has more hurdles jumped than you would care to count. He loves it and when he jumps one hurdle he's looking for the next one.

“He had one nice run last year when third at Killarney. He maybe wants a trip on the Flat — I don't know.

“He could possibly go to Listowel for the winners' hurdle there. This can be a weak division early on.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson