Andy Irvine moved by 'beautiful' first winner after death of partner Zoe Davison

Mr Jack's victory in the concluding 2m handicap hurdle provided a poignant success for Andy Irvine, partner of trainer Zoe Davison who died earlier this month after a long battle with cancer.

Davison's death on January 3 was preceded by a double for the yard on the same day at Plumpton. One of the winners that day was Mr Jack.

This success was tinged with yet more significance for Irvine, coming just a day after Davison was laid to rest on the gallops of the pair's West Sussex yard.

Irvine said: "We buried Zoe yesterday, it was a difficult day but a lovely day and we brought her home so she's up on the gallops which is where she wanted to be."

Mr Jack was pushed into contention by Niall Houlihan and took over in between the final two hurdles before powering three and three-quarter lengths clear from Sawpit Sienna.

"This means the world to everyone, like she said 'the show must go on' and it must. It's really important to have that first winner," added Irvine, who has since taken over Davison's licence.

"Some people have to wait a long time so we're very lucky and that it's the same horse who won the day she died is just beautiful. It means a huge amount."

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Reed rides out claim

It was a day to celebrate for conditional jockey Harry Reed after he rode out his claim aboard Khan in the opening 2m maiden hurdle.

Reed rode his first winner in the 2013-14 season and his career has gone from strength to strength since he joined Neil Mulholland's team in 2017.

"That was number 75 for me so that's the three pounds gone. Hopefully things can keep going to the way they are at the moment," said Reed, whose biggest success to date came aboard Indian Temple in the 2019 Perth Gold Cup.

Harry Reed on the way to success aboard Khan (left) at Plumpton on MondayCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Khan was talented performer on the Flat in Germany when with trainer Henk Grewe, winning two races including the Group 1 Preis Von Europa. He was then briefly trained in France by David Cottin and joined trainer Milton Harris in December.

The seven-year-old finished tailed off in a jumpers' bumper at Lingfield earlier this month but stepped forward to record a maiden hurdles victory and first since his standout Group 1 success in 2018.

Zhiguli progress continues

Zhiguli continued his steady progression with a smart performance in the feature 3m1f handicap hurdle under Niall Houlihan.

The six-year-old has started to flourish in his last three starts, winning two and finishing second to the promising Chinwag at Taunton last time.

The victory was the first leg of a double for Houlihan, completed when Mr Jack took the last.

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The jockey, based with local trainer Gary Moore, continued the promising start to his career with a 12th winner of the season, taking his overall tally to 22.

Moore trains out of Cisswood Stables, only 15 miles away from Plumpton, and Houlihan said: "I'm over the moon, he's an improving horse and he's done that nicely.

"It's great to get winners at local tracks for the owners and trainers in the area. He's a lovely horse and will make a chaser in time."

Read more:

Racing community mourns the loss of trainer Zoe Davison aged 60

'A fabulous trainer' – racing remembers Zoe Davison on social media

'What Zoe didn't know about horses wasn't worth knowing' – Simon Clare's tribute

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