Sixmilebridge Too Far For Derryhassen Paddy At Ayr

Sixmilebridge made a successful chasing introduction 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 short of runners, but it always promised to be an intriguing affair with Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore's Albert Bartlett third Derryhassen Paddy (5-6 preferred) 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 offered a lot of drama, all 3 looked likely at numerous stages of the home .


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


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


"A lot of credit goes to Max Kendrick who trips him in your home and he's not an easy horse at home. It's nice to do the job and a win under his belt."


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


This victory came by two 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 trip he might eventually wind up plying his trade.


"We have not made a lot of strategies besides to try to get today out of the way 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 think he could do either, increase in journey or hang back in trip if you wished to. Kielan said his last 4 jumps were his finest 4 jumps when he was going a bit quicker."


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