Nuttoridge (right) comes to claim School Lane at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Nuttoridge gave Philip Enright his third winner in two days when running out a cosy winner of the staying handicap chase at Downpatrick.
Fresh off a double at Tipperary yesterday the Kerryman gave Mark McNiff's charge a well judged hold up ride in the two-mile-seven contest.
He crept closer going to the third last and was pressing the leaders at the penultimate fence.
The 10/1 shot landed in a narrow lead over the final fence and soon asserted, going on to record a three-and-a-half length win over School Lane
Nuttoridge had gained his only other career victory, over hurdles, here last August and Enright said:-
"He likes the track here. He had a nice run here the last day over 2m3f so we were hoping he would improve from that on his first run of the season and a step up in trip. He jumped and travelled great.
"Mark was confident enough that he would improve from the last day. Mark has been a brilliant supporter of mine and he is a very good trainer. For the quality of horses he has, he does unbelievably.
“Hopefully these successes will get him a better quality of horse. I'm lucky that I get to ride most of these horses, he's very good to me that way.
"He doesn't really have that many winter horses, more summer horses. When the ground is dry, he makes it count."
And on Robert Tyner announcing his retirement, he said: "It is a bitter pill to swallow but look it is a shame personally and professionally. They made their decision and all we can do is support them, and hopefully we will see them back in racing in another sphere."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
