Sempo enjoys stamina test to land maiden

Sempo justified odds-on favouritism when making all for an ultimately convincing win in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding won a bumper in fine style on this corresponding card 12 months ago and subsequently finished a creditable sixth behind Envoi Allen in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

He came home strongly when runner-up to Cobbler’s Way in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and this extra quarter mile proved just the trick.

The 8/11 favourite’s jumping was something of a mixed bag but a good leap at the last settled the issue and he kept on strongly under JJ Slevin to beat Minella Encore by six and a half lengths.

Oscar Montel was a further seven lengths back in third.

O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell said, "He stays all day, jumps well and will be a cracking chaser in a year's time. He is a horse with a future and is still a frame of a horse.

"JJ said when the other horses came to him, he went on again and he has done it well in the end."

Paddy Power trimmed Sempo into 25/1 (from 33/1) for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.

(TW & AM)