Ridestan is back to go a place better After a bad blow with Thomas Edison's win in the previous race bookmakers were again paying out after the victory of Ridestan under Conor Hoban in the Guinness Surge Handicap at Galway. Second here over hurdles at the opening session of the Festival on Monday night, the well-backed Ridestan (9/4 into 7/4 favourite) took it up after quarter of a mile and he made the rest on the way to a three and three parts of a length win from Knight's Parade. Winning trainer Conor Hoban said: "That's my third Festival win as a trainer and I rode two as well for Charlie (Swan). "He's a good horse and he's improving. The lads that own him will knock some kick out of this. "They were celebrating on Monday night so I'd hate to see what they'll do now. "I was saying to the lads after Monday night (the winning syndicate) that this horse is one you could see in the amateur handicap here next year. "He'll get two miles in time. That was the plan to make the running – Conor was very good on him. "Conor actually advised me to buy him. He had no form but he only cost 6K at the horses-in-training sale. "I told P J Corrigan that I had a horse the next day and he's one of the syndicate. They are from Nenagh (the Premier Spirit Syndicate)." (TW & EM)
