'Classy' Ferdia makes it two from three

Ferdia made it two wins from three starts, as he claimed the Register For August 14th Style Evening At tramoreraces.ie Rated Novice Hurdle.

A surprise winner on debut at Ballinrobe in May, the John Ryan trained gelding since finished second to Enniskerry at Roscommon.

Available at 7/1 in early shows for this two-mile contest, the son of Dylan Thomas came in for plenty of market support and went off at just 3/1 under Danny Mullins.

Having raced mainly in fourth, he got a dream run through on the inner approaching the second last and was soon in a share of the lead.

Ridden on the run-in, the five-year-old victor kept on strongly in the closing stages, getting the better of Schone Aussicht (4/1) and Mike O’Connor by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Raven Rule was sent off the 5/4 favourite but she faded tamely after making a mistake at the fourth last flight. Golfe Clair (6/1) was still in with every chance when unseating JJ Slevin two out.

Ryan said in the aftermath: "I really like this horse. I brought him to Ballinrobe first time out and he was as green as grass. I didn't think it would be possible for him to win but he did.

"Philip wasn't over hard on him the last day behind Barry Connell's horse but the next time he meets him it'll be a different ball game.

"This trip is totally too short for him. He is a two-and-a-half to two-mile-six horse. His work at home is real classy. The dam is a half-sister to a good horse Paul Nicholls had (El Bandit).

"He will go to Galway now and up that hill he will take a bit of beating. He is as tough as nails and Danny gave him some ride."