Sixmilebridge Too Far For Derryhassen Paddy At Ayr

Sixmilebridge made an effective chasing intro in what ended up being an enthralling three-runner contest at Ayr on Wednesday.


The Play Coral "Racing-Super-Series" "Chasing Excellence" Beginners' Chase may have been brief of runners, but it always promised to be an intriguing affair with Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore's Albert Bartlett 3rd Derryhassen Paddy (5-6 preferred) handling Fergal O'Brien's Grade Two-winning hurdler.


Oliver Greenall and Gamesters Guy (13-2) made an excellent fist of being the fly in the ointment and in a race which supplied a lot of drama, all 3 looked likely at different stages of the home directly.


Ultimately it was 6-4 possibility Sixmilebridge who proved the most sure-footed when it mattered most to reward connections' long journey to Scotland with their gifted chasing prospect.


O'Brien stated: "He got the job done, I suppose I was a bit disappointed with his leaping as he's been excellent in the house, but he beat a great horse in Lucinda's horse, so you need to be extremely delighted with him.


"A lot of credit goes to Max Kendrick who rides him at home and he's not a simple horse at home. It's good to finish the job and a win under his belt."


Sixmilebridge made a great start to chasing at Ayr (Bradley Collyer/PA)


This success came by 2 and a half miles and Sixmilebridge was made 33-1 from 66s by Paddy Power for a go up to three miles and the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.


However, O'Brien is open over which journey he could ultimately wind up plying his trade.


"We haven't made too lots of plans besides to try to get today out of the method first," continued O'Brien.


"I'll talk to Kielan (Woods, jockey) and Mr and Mrs Megson (owners) and try make a strategy of where to go next.


"I believe he might do either, go up in trip or drop back in trip if you wished to. Kielan stated his last four dives were his best four dives when he was going a bit quicker."


O'Brien and Woods quickly doubled up on the card when Stop Loss declared the Coral Novices' Hurdle at odds of 25-1.