Lecky labours to maiden win

Lecky Watson was made to work harder than expected for his win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.

A runner-up on his first three starts last season, the Valirann five-year-old ran a huge race to finish fourth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham when returned at 80/1.

Since beaten into fifth at the Punchestown festival, the Slaneyville Syndicate-owned gelding was expected to make the breakthrough this afternoon, stepping up in trip and starting off over flights.

Sent off a 4/7 chance and never far from the pace under Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins-trained market leader raced keenly early on, taking closer order on the outer after the third last flight.

Ridden before the last, he ultimately outstayed his rivals on the run-in, getting the better of the gallant Rushmount (14/1) by a neck.

Michael O'Sullivan was aboard the runner-up for Jonathan Sweeney, while the front-running Shannon Royale (9/4) was another two-lengths away in third.

"His jumping was lovely but he was gassy and fresh," Townend commented.

"I thought to pull it out and hold off the runner-up was a good performance. It surprised me with him being so keen early on, that he was able to pull it out again.

"For one of ours at this time of year he can only improve and I loved his attitude towards jumping.

"He was a bumper winner in all but the prizemoney and his Cheltenham form was brilliant. He is a lovely horse for the winter, hopefully he can keep developing and eventually he'll be a chaser."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes