Jabus springs a 16/1 surprise

The Andrew Oliver trained Jabus ran out a surprise winner of the Jumping Leprechauns Handicap Hurdle, easing to victory under Mark Enright. The seven-year-old son of Bob Back ran his best race before today at Kilbeggan in August of last year, finishing second to Roisin Dubh in a bumper. He was well beaten on nine starts since and running for the fourth time in handicap hurdle company, he was sent off at 14/1 (touched 16s). The bay gelding made all, going clear from the second last to come home an easy eighteen length victor. Ta Blazes kept on late in the day to finish second at 16/1 under Andrew Ring for Philip Rothwell, while the 7/2 favourite, Pumped Up Kicks was a further four lengths back in third. Andrew Oliver said afterwards: "That horse showed a bit of form in a bumper last year but since then we've not been able to place him properly. "He never raised a gallop at Wexford but he likes it here. We decided to be positive with him today and I thought Mark gave him a super ride. "His owner, Patrick McElroy, is a local man from Ballyward, Co Down." Additional reporting by Michael Graham