Charlie Swan enjoyed an easy victory on board the JP McManus-owned Grimes in the £40,000 Betdaq Hurdle at Tipperary this afternoon. Although Grimes was favourite to take this event, his chances were facilitated when his main rivals Quinze and Kilcash Castle both fell at the fifth fence. Jockey Norman Williamson, on board Quinze, was brought to hospital for x-rays on his ankle after that fall.
Afterwards, Grimes' trainer Christy Roche revealed his plans for the horse centres around both feature races at the up-coming Galway Festival. "If he runs in the Plate he would also be declared for the Hurdle, but I will leave it up to JP to make the final decision. They are two great pots," he explained.
McManus' Saor Theas completed a double for the multi-millionaire businessman with victory in the penultimate race of the day. With Paul Moloney on board, he held out despite pressure from Mail Man and eventually won by two lengths.
The other winners of the day were Manchester, Princess Luna, Tubbertown Rose, Francines-Boy, Dafariyna and Slaney Sue.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
