Honeysuckle's handler wins northern hunter

Honeysuckle's point-to-point handler Jerry Cosgrave was amongst the winners at Downpatrick as his aptly-named Big Leg Up landed the Boardsmill Sires Maiden Hunters Chase under jockey Simon Cavanagh.

Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle won her point-to-point under jockey Mark O'Hare when in Cosgrave's care in 2018 before selling to owner Kenny Alexander and indeed the same Cosgrave/O'Hare combination won a point with Mount Ida, which won Thursday's Kim Muir Chase under an inspired Jack Kennedy ride.

Following Big Leg Up's win, Banbridge-based Cosgrave stated “he wouldn't be the fastest in the world but he's massive, stays and gallops.

"He just laid back off it and they went too fast. He dropped him well because there was no point in going after it.

"He has scope to burn and he is a serious horse to jump.

"I did expect a good run today. We had hobdayed him and he won his point-to-point and then it started to catch him again and we did a tie-back on him this time and it was a success. He has been working brilliantly and I expected him to be in the first three.

"He can handle that good ground and we'll maybe go for another one now."

Quotes from Michael Graham