The Trigger fires Flanagan to 103/1 double

The Trigger was another veteran to get on the scoresheet at Kilbeggan this evening when he took the staying handicap hurdle with Sean Flanagan in the saddle.

He moved ominously well onto the heels of the leaders two out and had them in his sights on the approach to the home bend of this three mile one test.

He came with a sustained challenge up the inner into second behind Ocean Glandore coming to the last.

Ocean Glandore's lead was virtually whittled away there, and The Trigger took aim and passed him with 100 yards left to go on the run-in.

He won going away by a length and a quarter at 3/1. Ocean Glandore (8/1) had to settle for second.

There was a seven and a half length gap back to Bye Bye O Bye (20/1).

This gave Flanagan a brace of Kilbeggan winners as he also won the opener on 25/1 shot Scalor

“He was brave and did it well. Sean was excellent on him and he never missed a beat. I thought he was beat turning for home, but Sean switched him to the inside and he stayed on well after the last," said trainer Ronan McNally.

“He’s looking amazing at the minute and when he hits a bit of form he seems to keep it. His last four runs have been very good.

“Just before the lockdown, the horses weren’t quite right but they are healthier now and starting to run to form.

“He’s in again at Gowran and Limerick during the week but he doesn’t usually bounce back that well running quick. We’ll see how he is after that.

“He was four and a half kilos heavier today than he was when he won at Tipperary, so I was thinking he was getting too fat.

“I don’t train him too hard — I made that mistake before. When you train him hard and try to gallop the weight off him then he goes back ways.

“Tipperary he was probably about 80 per cent and I gave him a full week off before today, just hacked him about at home. He just seems to thrive on being fresh and well.”

The previous race on the card was won by 12-year-old Bective Cave

Additional reporting by Alan Magee