Sixmilebridge Too Far For Derryhassen Paddy At Ayr

Sixmilebridge made a successful chasing intro in what became an enthralling three-runner contest at Ayr on Wednesday.


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


Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's Gamesters Guy (13-2) made a great fist of being the fly in the ointment and in a race which supplied plenty of drama, all 3 looked likely at numerous stages of the home straight.


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


O'Brien said: "He got the task done, I suppose I was a bit dissatisfied with his leaping as he's been extremely good in your home, however he beat a very great horse in Lucinda's horse, so you have to be really delighted with him.


"A great deal of credit goes to Max Kendrick who rides him in the house and he's not an easy horse at home. It's great to do the job and a win under his belt."


Sixmilebridge made a fine start to going after at Ayr (Bradley Collyer/PA)


This triumph came by two and a half miles and Sixmilebridge was made 33-1 from 66s by Paddy Power for a relocation up to 3 miles and the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.


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


"We have not made a lot of strategies aside from to try to get today out of the way initially," continued O'Brien.


"I'll speak with Kielan (Woods, jockey) and Mr and Mrs Megson (owners) and attempt make a plan of where to go next.


"I believe he could do either, go up in journey or hang back in trip if you desired to. Kielan stated his last 4 dives were his finest 4 jumps 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.