Shake The Bucket, left, and Slippers Madden lead into the straight© Photo Healy Racing
Veteran Shake The Bucket delivered at 14/1 for the Madden family in the 19-runner Easyfix Handicap Hurdle at Galway.
The nine-year-old took over from Mysticaltou after the third last and saw off the pursuing Long Journey Home on the run to the final hurdle. Lord De Beaufai looked to be the danger as he tried to close on Slippers Madden and Shake The Bucket at the last.
However, Shake The Bucket popped the last and got away from it quickly. He was soon ridden by Madden on the long run-in and ground it out despite Lord De Beaufai (16/1) reducing his advantage to a length and three quarters at the line. Camlann the 3/1 favourite, was seven lengths adrift of Lord De Beaufai in third with Mysticaltou completing the places in fourth at 22/1.
Owner Sarah Ann Madden said: "Absolutely brilliant! He's a family horse and he just keeps winning. He is just so good. Dad (trainer Niall Madden) would sooner have him over any of us! Dad is over the moon now. We all love Galway and are big fans of Galway. To have a winner in Galway is something special.
"He has won a point-to-point, he has won over hurdles, he has won over fences and he has won on the flat."
Jockey Niall 'Slippers' Madden added: "Sarah Ann, my sister, owns him and my mother Trish bred him. We've had the whole family from the grand-dam down. He's a very versatile horse. He owes us nothing from his point-to-point to seven on the flat, hurdle and chases now.
"I actually thought the ground was gone a bit slow for him but we didn't go over quick and he actually kind of half ran away from me at the top of the hill. I got there way too soon but he stuck it out well thank God.
"I didn't think they were going to go as slow as they did but he travelled really well and he jumped super like he always does and as I said I thought I got there a bit too soon but I had no choice in the matter. He knew what he was doing more than I did!"
Trainer Niall 'Boots' Madden said: "He got a great ride and has been a great money-spinner and is also home-bred.
"He can go chasing or any way (flat or hurdles) - he's well handicapped on the flat but he wants good ground. I thought the ground had gone a bit slow for him but they went very handy in the race and it suited him."
This was Shake The Bucket's 12th career victory.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
