Ansar defied a 12lb penalty for Monday night's win at Galway and showed his liking for the track to lift the IR£110,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle this afternoon. Now unbeaten in four races at the track for Dermot Weld, Ansar and Paul Carberry went one better than stable companion Darialann 12 months ago, who was fifth this time, to give the trainer his third win in the race.
Carberry kicked for home at the second last on Ansar (6-1), taking over from the gambled-on English raider Ulundi, but was being stalked by The Gatherer (9-1) in the colours of JP McManus who took the Galway Plate yesterday with Grimes.
However another fine leap by Ansar settled the issue over the final flight and Carberry's mount had three lengths and the same to spare over The Gatherer and third-placed Vivo (14-1) at the finish. Ulundi was backed from 9-2 to 5-2 for Banbury trainer Paul Webber, but was never travelling well for Dean Gallagher.
"Ulundi felt very flat. I was beaten from five out although he did not empty until the second last hurdle," explained the jockey. "My horse likes the ground very quick and is still a novice. On him it felt slow and a bit rough."
Asked about future plans for Ansar, Weld replied: "Today was the day we wanted him. The logical race for him now is the Cesarewitch at Newmarket, although he is better over hurdles because he jumps so well."
Filed by Sinéad Kissane
