San Salvador continues progress over fences with Grade 3 success at Roscommon

San Salvador continued his progress over fences when landing the Grade 3 novice chase under a confident ride from JJ Slevin for trainer Joseph O'Brien.

The eight-year-old opened his chasing account at the fifth attempt eight days ago in a novice chase at Listowel and went off at 13-2 on his first foray into Graded company outside of handicaps since 2021.

Slevin anchored his mount in rear alongside 9-4 favourite Arctic Fly and travelled nicely into contention approaching the penultimate fence, challenging A Law Of Her Own.

Despite not producing the most fluent leap at the final two fences, he found plenty to fight off Peter Fahey's mare and win by three and a quarter lengths, securing a treble on the day for his trainer, who also had two winners at Down Royal.

"He's improving and was good at Listowel the other day," Slevin told Racing TV. "He's rated 135 over hurdles, and he's going to be something similar over fences.

"Just niggly things held him up, but he's getting a clean run at it now. Stalking away seems to suit him and he'll have no bother getting two and a half miles."

McKiernan handicap double

Warmer Days Ahead kicked off a double for Phillip Enright and trainer Oliver McKiernan when justifying favouritism in comfortable style in division one of the 2m4½f handicap hurdle.

The duo were in the winner's enclosure again an hour later when Its Not Over Yet ran out a similarly convincing winner of the 3m handicap hurdle.

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