Silk Hall causes surprise in Grimes Hurdle

The James Lambe trained Silk Hall caused a 25/1 upset in the featured Grade 3 Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary today, under jockey Eddie O'Connell

The winner carried a rating of just 128 into today's race but made all and battled well in the straight to hold the challenge of Steps To Freedom by three parts of a length, with half a length back to Fosters Cross in third.

Lambe later stated “he (Silk Hall) didn't become a bad horse overnight and was once third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. He was well up to competing in races like the Swinton Hurdle but maybe he was getting lazy in his old age and the blinkers made him more focussed.

“I told Eddie (O'Connell) to be positive on him and that he'd definitely stay. He's a bit tubby and can be lazy so we put blinkers on at home last week and they seemed to work the oracle. He won't run in the Galway Hurdle as he is better over two and a half miles and will instead run in the 2m6f Grade C handicap hurdle on the Saturday at Galway.”

Early morning favourite So Young was a non-runner, reported lame.

By Thomas Weekes