Bective a poignant winner for connections

Paul Townend enjoyed a quick-fire double in Kilbeggan on board another horse carrying top weight of 12 stone - Bective Cave in the second division of the two mile handicap hurdle.

The veteran 12-year-old was driven on by Townend off the home turn, and readily took a few lengths out of their rivals.

The pair were nicely clear at the last and tanked in by four and a half lengths at 12/1. Thousand Tears could make no impression in second at 10/1. He was eight lengths ahead of 11/2 shot Feel Des Mottes though.

Trainer Matthew Smith said: Paul said he wasn’t totally happy for the first mile and they were going a bit quick for him. He gave him a great ride and just let him go his own pace.

“I’m delighted for Pat (Keating, owner) as he was very close to Tommy McGivern who passed away this week. Tommy would have done a lot of work with this horse going back years ago, so it’s lovely that he’s won.

“For a 12-year-old he keeps surprising me. That’s his sixth win and last year was the best he’s ever been. I thought he might struggle off that mark today and was thinking of going back for a chase as he’s only rated 95 over fences.”

Townend won the first division of this race, half an hour earlier, on board Rasiym (3/1). His double paid 51/1.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee