"The ground was what did it today. I gave him a run at Dundalk last week and I couldn't see him getting beaten today.

"That horse has had three wind operations and credit has to go to vet, Ger Kelly.

"He said on the third operation that it would be 60/40 but we went ahead with it.

"The horse was written off but he's a good horse and we'll keep him going.

"I told everyone here that he'd win.

"Brady's the name, racing's the game. That's what I run my horses for – to win. Up Monaghan!"

So said trainer Oliver Brady after Khan Tengri had landed some bets (10/1 this morning into 13/2) under Adrian Heskin in the New Season New Look Novice Handicap Hurdle at Downpatrick. The blinkered grey beat Hazariban by four and a half lengths.

Brady also revealed that his Cheltenham preview night last Monday raised 37,790 Euros for charity. (MG & EM)