Shot gives Rutledge and McConnell doubles

Siobhan Rutledge and John McConnell both bagged doubles at Down Royal this afternoon when Wild Shot burst through inside the final furlong to claim the Value Cabs Handicap.

Rutledge had also claimed the Ulster Oaks on Atavique for Tom Gibney while McConnell had teamed up with Donagh O'Connor earlier with Fennor Cross

Wild Shot was landing a treble in the extended mile-and-a-half contest, coming between horses to lead in the last 150 yards and record a half length win over Loudest Whisper

The eight-year-old was supplementing recent wins over hurdles at Downpatrick and Tramore.

McConnell said: "On a lot of his hurdles runs, he was entitled to go very close here.

"He's a really, really impossible horse to predict and train because you have to train him 70 per cent of what I train the other horses. He is kept fresh all the time so you are never sure you have him fit.

"What a horse, I think he has won nine or 10 in total. I think he has won four or five for me and you see the size of him. He carried top weight in Tramore the last day.

"He seems to be better over hurdles. He'll mix it and end up in Galway I'd say either on the Flat or over hurdles. I'd say he will go to the UK as he is a novice so I might pick up a novice over there at some point.

"He'll probably end up at Cheltenham in October. He was there last year and actually ran a really good race.

"We thought we only had to turn up in Dundalk a couple of times and he didn't fire and I don't know if he is still in love with it as he was. He's going on in years and coming October time he will probably have earned a break."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)