Happy Jacky follows up off 12lb higher mark

Happy Jacky followed up a convincing win at Ballinrobe last week when successful again in the Giantsgrave Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.

The five-year-old gelding was raised 12lb for that easy nine lengths win in the west but that proved no problem as he justified 7/4 favouritism here.

Katie O’Farrell sent the son of Milan to the front after two out, and he kept on well on the run-in to score by two lengths. Alice Johnston took the runner-up berth, with Crafty Codger slightly hampered before the last a further three and a half lengths away in third.

Winning trainer Ray Hackett said, "He toughed it out well and it was his last chance to race in that 80-95 grade today so we said we'd take our chance. It was a bit quick but he is tough out.

"Today's trip was as short as he'd want and not knocking the rest of the horses, but it looked a middling race the last day.

"We might give him a pop over a fence before the ground goes heavy - he's not one for winter ground. He has great scope and he wants safe, yielding ground."

(TW & AM)