Grand Soir stays at it to seal his hat-trick

Grand Soir was best in the latter stages of the 2m7f rated novice hurdle as he completed a hat-trick for John McConnell.

The six-year-old gelding was under pressure in third behind both Level Neverending and Camino Rock on the run to two out.

To his credit, he found plenty for pressure once ridden to pass the aforementioned pair before the final flight.

The 9/4 joint favourite jumped the last swiftly and went on by two and three quarter lengths from Level Neverending (9/2). He defied 12 stone and gave weight away to each of his five rivals.

Jockey Simon Torrens said: "He has done everything we've asked him to do and that was a nice performance under top weight. The ground was probably dead enough for him - he wasn't in love with it the whole way but he toughed it out.

"He is a lovely horse going forward and I think he'll be a brilliant chaser.

"I was never really happy anywhere and he got me out of jail as he was there when I wanted him.

Maybe be saves a bit for himself, which probably isn't a bad thing, but when he steps up in grade he will have to be a lot sharper and more on the ball. But there was a lot to like about him."

Grand Soir's winning run began in a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in August before he took a novice hurdle at Cork in October.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes