Shannon Royale stays on best© Photo Healy Racing
The Gordon Elliott-trained Shannon Royale put a disappointing run at Fairyhouse behind him when landing the bumper under Jamie Codd.
Bought for 300,000 pounds after finishing runner-up in a point-to-point for Denis Murphy, the Walk In The Park gelding was only ninth to stablemate Doctor Bravo on his Rules debut but four of those in front of him were victorious on their next bumper starts.
Here, he was kept wide by Codd and, after being prominent throughout, kept up the gallop in the straight to beat dead-heaters Toad Hall (1/1 fav) and Walk Away Harry by two and a half lengths.
Codd said: "He ran before Christmas, in Fairyhouse, and his work was really good but he probably just got a little bit weak.
"What Gordon has done with him is marvellous. He cantered away with him all winter and got him strong, and he’s a different horse.
"I think we’ve seen the proper horse there and over hurdles next year he’s going to be even better. He could be a very nice horse.”
Quotes from Tom Weekes
