Reddys Island (left) challenges at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Reddys Island opened her account under Rules when getting on top on the run-in to land the Racing Again December 17 Handicap Chase at Thurles for the in-form duo of Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy.
The two fences approaching the straight were omitted in this 2m6f event due to the low sun and most of the nine runners were still in contention inside the final half-mile.
Three horses were in the air together at the last but Reddys Island landed in front and the 6/4 favourite soon asserted to beat Toofareastiswest by two and three-quarter lengths. Dundaniel was half-a-length further back in third while Ardera Ru finished well close up in fourth.
Elliott is enjoying numerically the best month of his illustrious training career with over 40 winners in November while Kennedy is now on the 70-winner mark for the season and leads Paul Townend, who recorded a treble this afternoon, by 20.
Kennedy said, "The fences being omitted at Down Royal didn't help her and it was the same again today as she was caught flat-footed. It actually worked out grand though as I wouldn't have liked to be in front any longer on her.
"She did it well, jumped great and she is a grand one to have. She is versatile and can go back over hurdles too."
Quotes by Tom Weekes
