Duke doing well with his juvenile hurdlers

Brendan Duke might have been rather disappointed with Clemencia’s well-beaten fourth in the Grade Two juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown on St. Stephen’s Day, but Leagan Gaeilge rsquo;s 33/1 success in the Paddy Power 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle will have cheered him immensely.

Carrying the colours of Jacqui Bolger, the daughter of Vocalised was produced by Sean Flanagan to lead before the last and ran on to thwart the staying-on Theatre Of War (20/1) by three quarters of a length. Takarengo (9/2) met a bit of trouble in running coming out of the back straight before keeping on for third, another two and a half lengths away, while the 2/1 favourite Saint D’oroux finished fifth having had every chance.

The winner, making her hurdle debut, won twice on the Flat for Jim Bolger and was having her first outing since the Galway Festival in July.

“You can’t beat class, said winning trainer Brendan Duke.

"She had a rating of 80 on the Flat and the great thing is that she is going to improve a tonne from this.

“She never jumped a hurdle in front until out there. She’s had plenty of schooling and is just a real nice filly.

“She loved the ground and got a real good ride from Sean Flanagan. It’s great to have a winner here at the Christmas meeting. I haven’t had a great year for Jim but this will make up for a lot of it.

“She may go for a winners’ race next month for more experience.

“We are not giving up on Clemencia. He got caught up in the ground yesterday but will have learned plenty as will his trainer and jockey.

“We’ll be back here in February and the only difference is we might now have two here in February!”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee