Young guns Roche and Gilligan making their mark

Still in the fledgling stages of his training career Padraig Roche continued his impressive run, sending out his ninth winner when Demi Plie prevailed in the Book Winter Festival Tickets Online At fairyhouse.ie Handicap Hurdle.

Liam Gilligan steered a second victor home for the Curragh View House handler, as J P McManus' Demi Plie convincingly accounted for Shimmer And Shine by three and a half lengths.

Both the first and the second got the last hurdle wrong, but the successful grey was travelling best, and she wasn't long about asserting her authority after the error.

"She was a bit unlucky in Listowel so I thought she would run well," said Roche.

"She was disappointing on the Flat the last day but I'd say the hurdles sweeten her up. She's a better mare over hurdles than on the Flat.

"We'll keep her going because I'd say she'll go with an ease in it and we'll look for something similar. It all depends what the handicapper does."

T. Ryan, rider of Euro So Brave trained by W.J.Austin, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran free to the bend, lost her footing and slipped up independently.

(GC & EM)