Rothwell on a roll

The winners keep coming for Philip Rothwell and Robindevidastar (9/1) was another for the Tinahely handler in the Shortcross Irish Whiskey Handicap Hurdle.

Having led from the start under Paddy O'Hanlon, the eight-year-old looked in trouble when headed after the last and briefly dropped to third before rallying well to foil Roman Parish by a head. Less than three lengths covered the first five home.

It was a second success for Mrs Philomena Shanahan's gelding, a winner at Punchestown in 2021, and it was a third winner of the week for the in-form trainer.

Philip Rothwell said: "He has been disappointing, he won a handicap for me last year and just lost his way hence the blinkers and make the running.

"We ran him over a shorter distance here and he didn't get his own way and was bustled back in a messy race.

"John and Philomena (Shanahan) have been mega patient because most people would quit with a few of his runs. I didn't know why he wasn't performing as well as he was working.

"I felt coming up here today that there wasn't a huge amount of pace and it was an opportunity for him.

"The horses are flying and are in good form, we had a winner yesterday as well. That is 11 winners for the season and about 30 placed horses.

"We have a small team but I have an exceptional staff and exceptional owners and it is making life very easy.

"There is a huge team effort going in at home. When you walk into the yard in the morning, you wouldn't like to be anywhere else in the world."

Quotes from Michael Graham