'He's ridden enough good ones to know' - promising Zariygann makes it two out of two over hurdles at Listowel

Michael Halford and Tracey Collins look to have a useful young prospect on their hands in the Joe O'Flaherty-owned Zariygann, who made it two out of two over hurdles with a convincing display in the 2m novice hurdle.

A wide-margin winner of a maiden hurdle at Roscommon on his previous start over flights, the imposing son of Sea The Moon took the step up in class in his stride, and galloped strongly through the rain-softened ground to beat odds-on favourite Gaucher by a comfortable six and a half lengths under Jack Kennedy.

Halford said: "You'd have to be very happy with him. He'd been jumping better at home and just seemed to have come forward from Roscommon. He settled well today and he galloped through that soft ground very well. We'll keep going now and see where we end up.

"You just like to see them coming forward like this fellow. He has the pedigree, he has the size and scope and he jumps well. Jack likes him, and he rides enough good ones and has ridden enough good ones to know."

Donkey Years ends long wait

It had been a disappointment to Rathkeale trainer Eric McNamara that Donkey Years had yet to take advantage of his handicap mark over hurdles, but with owner JP McManus in attendance, the son of Robin Des Champs could not have chosen a better race to finally come good over flights as he landed a competitive 3m handicap hurdle under Mark Walsh.

Travelling well in a race run at a reasonable gallop, he quickened up between the final two flights and only had to be kept up to his work from the last to account for favourite Coole Cherry by two and a half lengths.

McNamara said: "He's been a great servant over the years. He is so much better handicapped over hurdles than over fences so it's great to win one with him. He had promised a couple of times but had been very disappointing the last day at Galway so it's great to see him come back and show some sparkle and win in those colours.

"I'd like to have one more crack at the Munster National with him. Before today I might have struggled to be allowed to enter him but he'll be entered now! The drop of rain today helped him, but he doesn't want it too soft as his wind is not the best. If it had got any softer today we might have had to pull him out, but that summer soft is fine." 

After a fall here from Beaufort Scale, champion jockey Jack Kennedy was stood down for the day and taken to Tralee General Hospital for precautionary assessment on a possible rib injury.

Sands strikes gold

It was a frustrating day for Willie Mullins as he saddled four seconds, but he did start off on a winning note when son Patrick won the opening maiden hurdle on board his mother Jackie's Sea Of Sands. After accounting for market rival The Mediator by five lengths, the champion trainer revealed the winner might well take up his entry in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in just over two weeks' time.

Read this next:

'Horse of a lifetime' Flooring Porter pulverises Kerry National field with astonishing performance 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more