Sixmilebridge Too Far For Derryhassen Paddy At Ayr

Sixmilebridge made a successful chasing introduction in what became an enthralling three-runner contest at Ayr on Wednesday.


The Play Coral "Racing-Super-Series" "Chasing Excellence" Beginners' Chase might 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 favourite) taking on Fergal O'Brien's Grade Two-winning .


Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero's Gamesters Guy (13-2) made a great fist of being the fly in the lotion and in a race which provided a lot of drama, all 3 looked likely at numerous stages of the home straight.


Ultimately it was 6-4 chance 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 job done, I expect I was a little bit dissatisfied with his leaping as he's been excellent at home, however he beat an excellent horse in Lucinda's horse, so you have to be really delighted with him.


"A great deal of credit goes to Max Kendrick who rides him in the house and he's not a simple horse in your home. It's nice to do the job and a win under his belt."


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


This victory came over 2 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 journey he could ultimately end up plying his trade.


"We haven't made a lot of plans aside from to try to get today out of the way first," continued O'Brien.


"I'll speak with Kielan (Woods, jockey) and Mr and Mrs Megson (owners) and attempt make a plan of where to go next.


"I think he might do either, go up in journey or hang back in journey if you wanted to. Kielan said his last 4 jumps were his best four 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 odds of 25-1.