Zeeband and Jack Gilligan© Photo Healy Racing
Zeeband (100/30f) provided successful owner Paul Carty and his family with a boost today as the Paul Gilligan-trained grey gelding landed Limerick's Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by the trainer's son Jack Gilligan, Zeeband pressed Champagne Mahler for the lead and having gone clear of his rivals entering the home straight, finished well in testing conditions to score by 5.5 lengths from Grace Faraday
Afterwards trainer Gilligan reported “he'll be a grand horse for the summer, he will jump a fence at some time but today is a lovely day to win because Paul Carty - who owns half of the horse with Natalie (Gilligan), his mother is quite ill in hospital.
“It is a great boost for them and hopefully she will get a kick out of it as well.”
He added “Jack gave him a lovely ride as we planned to poke Henry's horse (front-running Champagne Mahler) along and I did think we'd reverse Gowran form with him. He is only getting the hang of things over hurdles now and hopefully will stay progressing.”
