Ex Patriot does the Holden family proud in their own race Ex Patriot (11/4 into 9/4 favourite) showed the class that saw him take fourth in the 2017 Triumph Hurdle when successful for the sponsors in today's feature event at Gowran, the Grade B Holden Plant Rentals Shamrock Handicap Chase. On his handicap chase debut, and again with Derek O'Connor in the plate after winning at Thurles a month ago, the Paul Holden-owned Ex Patriot, trained by his daughter Ellmarie, smoothly accounted for last year's winner of this race, Goulane Chosen, by two and three parts of a length. The front pair drew fourteen lengths clear of third home R’Evelyn Pleasure. “He improved a lot from his win the last day. We gave him a school during the week and he’s just an awful lot sharper. This is his first run in a handicap and he’s done it well. Derek knows him inside out," said Miss Holden. “We’ve no plan where we go next. We’ll see how he is in the next day or two and make a plan then. “He jumped a lot better than the last day, and a bit of softer ground is what he needs.” The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Doctor Phoenix, trained by Gordon Elliott, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be have blood at the nose following exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage. D.N. Russell, rider of Doctor Phoenix trained by Gordon Elliott, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled and pulled up thereafter. At the request of the Stewards, P. Townend, rider of Dolciano Dici (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount made a mistake down the back. (AM & EM)
