Challenge has McKiernan singing in the rain

Oliver McKiernan ended a long losing run stretching back nearly ten months when saddling Another Challenge to record a shock 16/1 victory in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.

Heavy ground is vital to the Milan gelding and persistent rain on top of already testing going played right into the hands of Paddy Mangan’s mount.

The five-year-old gelding was prominent throughout, with well-backed 9/2 favourite Tin Town Boy patiently ridden by Ruby Walsh to try and mount a challenge after two out.

However Another Challenge stayed on really strongly on the run-in, and had four and a half lengths to spare at the line. Sarah Battle was another five and a half lengths adrift in third, with Abolitionist in fourth.

McKiernan said, “The key to this horse is the heavy ground. We were running him and he wasn’t letting himself down to gallop. He lost his way a bit after winning his bumper at Thurles on bottomless ground. He could step up in trip.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson