Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)

AFTER a spring in which he has produced one surprise after another, Jeff Kidder upstaged the elite of the juvenile hurdle division.

A first Grade 1 winner of the campaign for Noel Meade and the crowning success of Sean Flanagan’s most successful season to date, Jeff Kidder lined up as a fast improving horse.

He showed his 80/1 Fred Winter success was no fluke when landing a Grade 2 at Easter but this race, which contained the Triumph one-three-four, demanded a good deal more.

As it turned out Jeff Kidder was more than well equipped for the task as he sprang a 22/1 surprise in what was unquestionably one of the most interesting and competitive of the week’s Grade 1 events which made for absolutely fascinating viewing as the complexion of this event changed markedly at various points inside the final mile.

The race got going some way out and for a period Haut En Couleurs looked to have everything covered when he strode on at the third last. At this stage both the winner and Zanahiyr looked to be under pressure and gave the impression that they could be playing for a minor role at best.

Motoring Jeff

However, Haut En Couleurs began to flag turning for home and it was at this stage that Jeff Kidder began to motor when he came with his charge on the outer. Zanahiyr was briefly the meat in the sandwich between the winner and Zoffanien and this incident prompted an enquiry but, as expected, there was no change to the result.

Jeff Kidder led over the last and kept on bravely to hold the closing Zanahiyr by three-quarters of a length with Haut En Couleurs a further length and a quarter away.

The Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios finished seventh of the eight finishers.

“He jumped today which he doesn’t always do. He’s just never stopped improving since he came back from Cheltenham. He’s just become a star,” stated Meade.

“A real fast gallop really suits him as he got there and in the Fred Winter. Even though he’s improving all the time he will have a little break now.”

“It’s great way to end the season. We needed that this week as it was a lonely one but I’m delighted and he’s just a little dinger of a horse,” added Meade whose charge is owned by Albert Dravins and Eamonn Scanlon.