JAKE Coen was a notable winner at Limerick on Tuesday as the apprentice flat jockey steered his first jumps winner in the Limerick Races On Facebook Handicap Hurdle, on 20/1 outsider Petit Dejenuer.

Coen, a brother of leading flat jockey Ben Coen, has recently turned his attentions to National Hunt and on Petit Dejeuner, he produced the mare to lead from the second last, scoring readily from New Barn Lane.

Winning trainer Denise Foster later reported: “Jake gave her a fantastic ride. I’ve always liked him on the flat and I knew he would go into National Hunt in a good way. I told him to get her into a nice rhythm and didn’t panic or rush her.”

She added: “It was her first run back, her first run in a handicap but she had been going so well at home. I think Califets take a bit longer than other horses so we let her grow up and mature. I didn’t think she’d win so easy so I’m a bit shocked.

“I’m so happy for the (Untouchables) syndicate who are local and from around Kilcock. One of the best horses I’ve had was Supreme Touch, who they owned, so when my brother-in-law Gordon (Foster) said he wanted to keep this mare in training, I said to get the old gang back.”

Backed

Second biggest-priced winner was 10/1 shot Quest With Speed in the opening DMC Atlantic Maiden Hurdle but had been backed at twice those odds before scoring comfortably under Shane Fenelon.

Trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon was in top form post-race and reported: “He is a lovely big horse but was weak and took ages to come. He was probably too weak last year and he will make a lovely chaser as he is 16.3hh.

“He loved that heavy ground and it was great to get today out of the way. He is entered again for Sunday in a handicap hurdle over three miles and I think the farther the trip the better he’ll be.

“The owner William Carroll, from New Ross, bred him and he is currently on a boat to England as his business is there.”

Enhanced

The other maiden hurdle, sponsored by Adare Manor, was won by the Pat Fahy-trained Champagne Admiral (6/5 favourite), which enhanced his reputation in scoring under Richie Condon.

Trainer Fahy reported: “He was keen but they weren’t going much of a gallop. I had talked with Joe Foley (owner’s representative) and he said to let him go on if there was no pace. He settled on the front and while it wasn’t straightforward, he got it done.

“Michael O’Sullivan (jockey, not qualified to ride today) loved him but when this race came up I had to go for it. Conditions and everything suited.

“We’ll enter him in plenty races but I’d like to run him in a good novice hurdle and then see where we are with him.

“Steve Parkin (who owns Clipper Logistics) has always made sure to send me a horse and he bought me this lad. He has a half-share in another horse and without him, I don’t think anyone else would send me a horse bought for €100,000. We all need a leg up and I’m lucky with Steve and I can’t thank him enough.”

Smithers makes a Splash

OWNER J.P. McManus landed the Panoramic Restaurant (Mares) Handicap Hurdle with the Eoin Griffin-trained Splashing Out (18/5), which scored under jockey Peter Smithers.

The five-year-old was scoring a maiden success and Griffin said: “She had been a small bit frustrating last season and while she had a couple of nice runs, she never got there. She had been a little immature mentally but the cheekpieces helped.

“She had a good run here last winter on heavy ground so had no worries about the ground although it was her first run of the season.

“It was Peter’s first ride for me - Gary Cribbin his agent suggested him to me and he gave her a nice ride and filled her with confidence the whole way around.”

Drift

Shotgun Jack defied a market drift (morning 9/2, returned 15/2) when landing the Mr Binman Christmas Festival Handicap Hurdle for trainer Pat Kelly and jockey Philip Donovan.

The five-year-old was a well-backed and easy winner at Galway in October and was today defying a 14lb rise, when beating runner-up Happy Dreams by seven lengths.

Kelly’s son Tony Kelly later said: “He got a stone for winning at Galway the last day but this was still the 0-102 grade so you’d be hoping he’d be competitive.

“Philly gave him a great ride, he settled away in front and after winning over three-miles the last day, we were confident he’d be okay over this trip on the heavy ground.

“If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, so we’ll stay over hurdles for now but he is a big horse who hopefully can do well over fences.”

Cosmo takes his opportunity

COSMO Renfro (11/2) was produced from off the pace to win the Follow Us On Twitter Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, for trainer Shane Nolan and jockey Kieren Buckley.

Produced to challenge rounding the home turn, the Arctic Cosmo-gelding got the better of Meehall on the run-in with Nolan reporting: “He had a couple of little issues and Neil (Cox, owner) has been very patient with him.

“His two runs previously here were good runs so we’ll probably look to come back here at Christmas.

“He handles the ground well, Kieren gave him a great ride and saved ground everywhere.

“It is hard to get winners, we have nine riding out and hopefully this horse can win again.”

The concluding bumper was won in fine fashion by the John and Tommy Kiely-trained, Maxine O’Sullivan-partnered Ma Belle Etoile (5/2), which scored on her third run, having bumped into promising Only By Night on a previous run.

John Kiely reported: “She has been improving with each run and while it may have appeared she regressed the last day, that was in a better race and the winner won since.

“She is improving all the time and we’ll see how she comes out of the race now.”