Coldwinters warms up his supporters

Four flights from home the handicapper must have been patting himself on the back as all 11 runners in the three mile handicap hurdle were tightly bunched and in with a chance, however, at the business end Coldwinters fended off One Back For Luck by a neck to score.

Trainer Gillian Callaghan praised jockey Keith Donoghue afterwards for his ride on the well-backed (4/1 to 5/2 favourite) nine-year-old gelding. She said: “Keith said they bunched up on him and he got railed up on the inner. Coldwinters kept at it and he’s really genuine.

“It was a fair ride to come from where he was. He’s entered up at Downpatrick on Tuesday and we’ll see how he is after this. We’ll keep him at it and campaign him over the summer.”

Donoghue produced his charge at the last and was always holding second-placed One Back For Luck (12/1). Hidden Shamrock on his first outing of the new jumps season, came home third at 25/1 for trainer Leonard Whitmore.

Coldwinters was following up on a course and distance win in a handicap a month ago.

Michael Graham