Jesse Evans digs deep to claim 10th career victory

Irish Examiner

03-07-2025

The classy, consistent, and versatile Jesse Evans continues to be a tremendous horse for connections, and when he summoned all of his experience to prevail, narrowly, in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle on ladies' day at Tipperary, it was a 10th career victory for the nine-year-old.
Three times a winner on the level, once in a bumper, once over fences, and now five times over timber, he was coming here off the back of a trip to Ascot. Though out of luck there, the travelling certainly left no mark as the Noel Meade-trained and Donagh Meyler-ridden 7-2 chance was required to dig incredibly deep to collar similarly versatile veteran Enniskerry in the shadow of the post.
'He's a mighty horse,' said Meyler. 'He's a yard favourite, and he really toughed it out there. He had a nice weight on the ratings and had match fitness on his side, which definitely paid off.
'He's been great for connections, the Singletons. He has brought them all over the place, and was in Ascot last time out.
'I'm not sure what plans are — he might rock up in Galway — but he's won a Graded race today and we'll celebrate that.
'It's great to be connected with Noel, getting loads of rides off him, with plenty of opportunities, so long may it last.'
Jesse Evans has been placed in the Galway Hurdle on three occasions and could go for another tilt, but the Galway Plate is also an option, and it is a race Meyler has won twice, most recently in 2024, aboard Pinkerton, for the Meade stable.
Darragh O'Keeffe and Henry de Bromhead enjoyed a double on the undercard, starting with Red Glory home in the Donovan Transport Handicap Hurdle. In victory, the 11-1 chance ensured bumper and three-time chase winner The Banger Doyle, frustratingly, remains a maiden over hurdles, despite a favourable handicap mark.
There was plenty of each-way support for Adaliz prior to the Cappawhite CE Handicap Hurdle, and the 7-1 chance completed the 95-1 double in good style.
There was plenty of support for Strong Link prior to the O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Maiden Hurdle, and he duly obliged under the coolest, most patient of rides by Keith Donoghue.
'He's that kind of ride — he got the same type of ride by John Gleeson when winning his bumper,' said winning trainer Ross O'Sullivan. 'He's a classy horse, but he gets a bit lairy when he gets there too soon. We learned that in earlier bumpers when he pulled himself up in front.
'Keith was impressed with him today. He just needs to tidy up his jumping, but he won with plenty in hand. We bought him off Jamie Codd, who recommended him. He'll go novice hurdling now, and the plan would be the two-and-a-half-mile novice on the Thursday of Galway, if everything goes well.'
The card opened with the first three-year-old hurdle of the season and Minella Study landed a nice touch when winning under Daniel King. Backed from an overnight high of 10-1 to a return of 9-4, the John Nallen-owned and -trained gelding, who was a four-runner maiden on the flat, was prominent throughout, jumped well, and showed a good attitude to deny the promising Felicity Smoak.
Sam Curling and Philip Enright, who teamed up for a winner and a runner on the all-chase card here on Tuesday, earned another trip to the winner's enclosure after Queenofthelodge erased the memory of her last-time-out fall with a game victory in the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle.
Andy Slattery has his team in superb form and well-backed newcomer Ebony King added another to the yard's tally when taking the Tipperary Bumper under a positive ride by Adam Ryan. Victory completed an across-the-cards double for Slattery, after Exceeding's earlier success in Bellewstown.
'They're flying, and hopefully they'll keep that way,' said Slattery of his team. 'In fairness, they have been that way the last couple of years.'
Of the night's winner, he added: 'Adam had a lot of confidence in the horse. He's still on the weak side and we had him under-trained, if anything, and he was still very green. He was idling in front, but he has the makings of a nice horse. Tom Meagher bred him, and his wife, her sister, and another lady own him.
'I had him in last year but I left him off because he was very weak. He jumps very well and his work has been good since I brought him back this year, but I still think there's a lot to come. I don't know where he'll go, but if he comes out of the race well, we might go for a winners' bumper.'