Pateen springs shock for Ryder

20/1 shot Pateen supplied the first shock of the week when taking the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle at Galway.

Paddy Kennedy tracked the leaders on Shane Ryder's charge and he hit the front going to the second last.

The Vinnie Roe gelding neck a few lengths on the field jumping the penultimate flight and stayed on strongly over the last to record a five-and-a-half length victory.

4/1 favourite Artful Artist ran on to take second without getting a blow in at the winner.

“This is my Cheltenham and it's great,” said Ryder.

“We told Paddy to be handy and not to go too wide. He followed the instructions to the tee. Thankfully he had a horse everywhere he needed it.

“He had ability back in his bumper days and his bumper run worked out really well and did his first run over hurdles wasn't a bad run behind a horse of Joseph O'Brien's, Hallmark.

“Then for some reason or another, we couldn't figure it out, he just wasn't living up to what we thought he was.

“On his first run in a handicap he bounced back to himself.

“I train in a little village between Ballinasloe and Portumna and I've 12 horses in. I might get one or two more now!

“This is my first winner at Galway. I rode here a few times as an amateur with no joy. We had a second and third here last year.

“I've Garrai Phaidin in the Blazers on Friday. He's the unluckiest horse in training and is banging on the door everyday. Hopefully he might be saving it for here as well with any luck.”