Sean Flanagan shows his admiration for Rashaan after winning the third at Down Royal© Photo Healy Racing
Rashaan was made to work for his win in the Mount Charles Hurdle, eventually getting the job done under Sean Flanagan for Colin Kidd.
A Grade 2 winner over the course last November, where he beat Apple's Jade, the five-year-old gelding was sent off the 8/13 market leader today, from an opening show of 8/11.
Successful on the level at Clonmel on his last start, the chestnut gelding was stepping up to two and a half miles for just the second time today.
Having raced mainly in third he was niggled along from three out, and jumped the next in a share of the lead.
He was ridden into a narrow lead after that flight, and raced a couple of length clear on the run-in, going on to score by two and a half lengths. Marinero ran well in second, and he was returned at 9/4 under Bryan Cooper for Henry De Bromhead.
The four-year-old Brontide who was having just his fourth start over flights, also ran well, another four and a half lengths back in fourth.
Colin Kidd said afterwards: "He's tough and he only does what he has to do, he still gets the job done. I was a bit nervous now saddling an odds-on chance.
"The plan I would imagine now is to either run in the Grade Three hurdle in Tipperary in two weeks or there is another two and a half mile conditions hurdle in Cork in three weeks for ones that haven't won more than two since last May so he would be well in in that as well.
"The immediate plan after that is to go for the amateur riders race on the Monday of Galway.
"Sean (Flanagan) said they didn't go fast enough for him and if they had gone faster he would have been better. I see there he pulled a shoe coming in as well. He got the job done and he was the best horse in the race and he was entitled to do it."
When asked about the Galway Hurdle, Kidd added: "I think he is too high in the handicap over hurdles. He is better handicapped on the flat, he is only rated 86 on the flat. He is only 2lbs higher now than what he was when he was fifth in the Cesarewitch last autumn so I think the amateur handicap is the race to go for in Galway."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
