Rashaan bounces back to his best

Rashaan bounced back to his very best as he took the Grade 2 Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.

Last successful in a Grade 3 over fences at the Galway Festival, the seven-year-old son of Manduro had been disappointing since, and was fourth of five on the level at Clonmel on Thursday.

Available at 28/1 in a place this morning, the chestnut gelding was eventually returned a 16/1 chance with Davy Russell in the saddle for Co Carlow based trainer Colin Kidd.

He came with his challenge on the outer approaching the second last, and got to the front before the final flight, keeping on well from there to score by a length and a half. Not Many Left (11/2) kept on gamely to take second under Robbie Power for Jessica Harrington, after he was squeezed for room on the approach to the last. . Off You Go who was returned the 6/4 favourite, was a nose back in third, while Wicklow Brave fell early on.

Kidd said afterwards: "He's back to life. A lot of people were very quick to write him off after what happened in the Drinmore (left at the start) but it was just one of those things. I said on the day it was probably the cheek-pieces.

"He probably lost his bottle a bit over hurdles. We brought him back and gave him a couple of spins on the Flat and his third in the Red Mills Hurdle over a trip half a mile too short for him was a good run I felt.

"We gave him a blow out in Clonmel last Thursday evening. Two-and-a-half miles on good ground is his optimum I think.

"He won a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle here three years ago. To still have him sound and come back and win a Grade 2 on National day here is super.

"I was very hopeful when they had jumped two or three hurdles and I saw him travelling as sweet as he was.

"Some days he can be a bit flat early on in a race but he was just travelling so well throughout the race. When they straightened up for the second last I said he's going to come home well anyway as he always does.

"Hopefully we keep it but I think we will looking at it there.

"The fun that we are getting out of him, and I think that win today brings him up to nearly a quarter of a million in prize-money so it's unbelievable.

"I've no idea where we are going after today because he is a hard horse to place. I suppose he'll probably go up another few pounds for that.

"We only travelled him once, when he was fifth behind Buveur D'air in an Aintree Hurdle, and he didn't eat or drink over there.

"It's possible he could go back over fences but he was always a better horse over hurdles. When he won the Grade 3 chase in Galway Ornua and the horse that won the Topham (Cadmium) were in behind so the form stood up.

"The thing about him, as well, is that he's a much better from the spring through to the autumn as he loves a bit of sun on his back. In the depths of winter he doesn't like it.

"I have four in for the summer and I'm happy with that as I've no aspirations to trains 20 or 25 horses.

"If I can get four that are capable of winning I'm happy with that."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards enquired into possible interference in the straight involving Not Many Left, ridden by R.M. Power, placed second, Off You Go, ridden by M.P. Walsh, placed third, Petit Mouchoir (FR), ridden by Rachael Blackmore, placed fourth and Rashaan, ridden by D.N. Russell, placed first. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge's placings and took no further action.

Justice Leonie Reynolds, Chairman, absented herself from this enquiry and Justice Frank Clarke acted as Chairman.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson