Morgan 'still learning' and wins a 2nd

A half-brother to a pair of prolific winners in Johns Spirit and The Game Changer, today Morgan (8/1 into 5/1) won his second race when coming out on top in the Best Odds In Your Paddy Power Shop Maiden Hurdle at Naas.

Wearing a hood for the second time, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned and Gordon Elliott-trained Morgan was soon up there dictating, leading at the third.

He asserted from before the last where the 5/1 shot made a slight mistake under Bryan Cooper, going on to beat favourite Kolumbus by a length and a half. Drumconnor Lad had kept on into second before falling at the last.

Elliott commented: "He jumped and he'll probably stay going for the summer. He's no star and I was surprised that he handled the ground as well as he did."

Meanwhile Cooper stated on At The Races: "Gordon has done a good job getting him settled and we've done a lot of schooling with him which has paid off.

"We hacked around and it suited me. He's got plenty of speed. I knew if it turned into a sprint it would suit me and to be fair we were trying to teach him today and he did it well.

"He was very free in Clonmel and there was nothing eager to go on (here). I was happy once I got over the first to let him stride on and I got to run the race myself.

"He was very quick at his hurdles today and he'll make a lovely summer horse. It was in the bag when he just got in underneath the last a bit. He's still learning and good ground will be no problem to him.

"It's tough work out there."

(AM & EM)