Well-backed Happy Jacky holds on under expert ride by Ronan Whelan in Ulster Cesarewitch

Ronan Whelan was at his best in the saddle in the Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch as he controlled matters from the front on board 11-4 favourite Happy Jacky, who held on grimly by a neck from Charlie Darling at the line.

Trained by Mark Fahey, Happy Jacky has won six times over jumps but this was his first victory on the Flat from six attempts, the marathon 2m2½f distance playing to his strengths given he stays three miles over hurdles.

The ten-year-old is two from four over hurdles this season, landing events at Kilbeggan and Cork before finishing fifth in a Listed handicap at the Galway festival. He reverted to the Flat at Tramore last month, finishing third behind Familiar Dreams. Whelan had him under the pump to maintain his lead a fair way out, but Happy Jacky kept responding to his urgings to run out a game winner, having been backed into favouritism from a morning price of 7-1.

Whelan, who was securing a double having landed the preceding nursery on board the Ado McGuinness-trained Sir Jeremy, told Racing TV: "Mark deserves plenty of credit. He told me what to do and I just tried to carry it out as best I could. Those jumps lads don't get enough credit – I'm having a good blow!

"He kept on finding and he gives it to you when you need it. I got him rolling up the hill, which probably isn't the best thing to do, but one thing Mark said was don't give them a chance to quicken by you. So I was happy enough to go earlier and get beat rather than go later."

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