Shark Hanlon lights up a miserable Navan with a shock 40/1 winner
Quest With Speed with odds of 40/1 and Gavin Brouder jumps the last to win the The 2m4f handicap hurdle at Navan for trainer John "Shark" Hanlon. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post
In what were wet and miserable conditions on Sunday at Navan, Carlow's own John ‘Shark’ Hanlon caused a shock in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle as his 40/1 outsider Quest With Speed led a nineteen-strong field from pillar to post.
From the start, jockey Gavin Brouder set out with a plan to set a steady pace, and for the most part, he got his way apart from the attention of the well-backed Henry de Bromhead runner Killaney King.
Not much transpired until heads turned for home, and Quest For Speed kicked for home at the second last, where he saw off the attentions of the de Bromhead runner. With the final hurdle standing between Quest For Speed and a shock victory, the Oliver McKiernan-trained Collaborative was the final challenger as he loomed up with what looked like a strong challenge. But it was not to be for the Collaborative as Quest For Speed found more, and pulled away to win by over one length as his ecstatic owners roared him over the finishing line.
Speaking after the race, Hanlon said: “The boys had a right few quid on him, they got 66/1. I rang the lads last night and said to bring a few quid.” "He ran in a Listed race the last time and he is 9lb lower over hurdles than he is over fences, and he wants heavy (ground). He has to have heavy."
"The only thing I was a little bit doubtful about was that my horses are after being off the boil.
"It is only last week I worked horses and I was happy coming back with them. I haven't been happy for three months.
"The last day was over fences, and he is as good over hurdles as he is over fences. You'll see him at Limerick over Christmas."
Shark also gave an update on his stable star Hewick: “He has gone on a break because of the weather the way it is.” "We went to Newbury and the ground was way too soft for him. He ran well, he was there at the second-last.” I decided he will go straight to Cheltenham for the Stayers (Hurdle). He runs well fresh and with the way the ground is at the moment, it could be March again before we get good ground!”
In a race won by the likes of Samcro (2016), Envoi Allen (2018) and Sir Gerhard (2020), all eyes were firmly fixed on the Gordon Elliott runner Panjandrum. However, the Gordon Elliot runner, who was the well-backed 6/4 favourite, was to face a stern test from the Oh My Word.
Having arrived at Navan for their Listed bumper on the back of a shock, but impressive win on debut over course and distance, the question was whether the small operation of Thomas Cleary would be able to produce Oh My Word on one of the biggest days in his training career.
With the services of top amateur jockey Derek O’Connor on board the four-year-old, hopes were high that Oh My Word could back up his debut win. Having set off on the girth of the 6/4F Panjandrum, the son of Poet’s Word raced keenly throughout. However, as they turned for home to face the stiff uphill finish, Oh My Word cruised upsides the Gigginstown runner, and it was then a case of what the Thomas Cleary stable star would find off the bridle having raced so keen.
It didn’t take long to get our answer as Derek O’Connor gave Oh My Word an inch of reign, and the response was instant. The exciting four-year-old pulled clear of the three previous winners to record a win that has connections dreaming of big days in the spring sun.
It’s looking like we will see this exciting four-year-old line up at the Dublin Racing Festival and the Cheltenham Festival as Thomas Clearly aims to take down some of the national hunt juggernauts.
Delighted trainer Thomas Cleary said: “It’s my first listed win, so I’ll enjoy it. We knew we had a nice horse and he improved from the last day. He’s definitely the best horse I’ve had in the yard.”
This week marks the final fixtures before the short Christmas break. Fun returns under the lights as Dundalk hosts an ever-competitive card on Wednesday and Friday. Thurles will bring down the curtain on pre-Christmas racing on Saturday as they host a seven-race card.
Across the pond, we have the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot to look forward to, as the aptly named Crambo sets out to try to make it a hat-trick of wins in the Grade 1 contest.
