Mr Fred Rogers relishes a longer trip Mr Fred Rogers (even-money favourite) showed he is all about stamina as a late thrust took him home in the extended two mile seven furlong rated novice hurdle in Thurles. It would be fair to say he put in a less than stellar jumping performance but it was his engine that won the race for him. The patiently-ridden Nell's Well (6/4) unleashed her challenge approaching the last and was in front of Mr Fred Rogers on the run-in. The recent Grade 3 winner kept going, however, Mr Fred Rogers' stamina reserves kicked in in the closing stages as he took aim and shot past her to score by a length and a quarter for Gordon Elliott. Jockey Shane Fitzgerald said: "He dived out through one hurdle but I was always travelling very easy and he finds plenty off the bridle too. "We went very steady early on and it was only after a circuit that we started to quicken and we were fairly motoring down over the last two few but he always had plenty in hand. "He is a lovely horse." Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
