Dot's Jack Hackett is a 'Love-ly' horse

The Midland Breeders Supporting Kilbeggan Beginners’ Chase produced a local success as Jack Hackett (7/2) stayed on well to deny the long-time leader The Echo Boy (14/1) by half a length.

50/1 chance Champagne Beauty was still in there pitching when getting the last all wrong, but held on for third ahead of the 13/8 favourite Dommage Pour Toi

The winning Beat Hollow 6-year-old won a point-to-point and a bumper last year but didn’t manage to get his head in front over hurdles before switching to fences here a fortnight ago.

He was second on that occasion and went one better here under 5lbs claimer Cathal Landers, for whom it was an 8th winner of the season.

Winning trainer Dot Love, based in Mullingar, who won five races with Jack Hackett’s half-sister Dawn Shadow, said: "He deserved that, he's been knocking on the door for a while and just met a better one a few times.

“He jumped himself into position today and Cathal gave him a fantastic ride. He waited and waited and it was a great performance. He didn't come too early and knew he had enough horse.”

The winning rider added: "Rachael (Blackmore) said the last day that she wished she had something to aim at. The true-run race today suited him. When I asked him turning in he came onto it (the bridle) and I'd plenty of horse going down to the last."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson