Light fantastic at Gowran
Rubi Light
Rubi Light made all the running to win the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park for the second successive year.
Robbie Hennessy's talented seven-year-old outclassed his four rivals, although he had to overcome a bad mistake at the second-last when he went through the top of the fence.
Andrew Lynch dictated affairs on the 2-5 shot from the outset, steadily pulling clear, and was on his own in front from a long way out. After that scare at the penultimate fence, he jumped the last well to come 16 lengths clear of Chicago Grey, doing his Ryanair Chase claims at Cheltenham no harm.
Hennessy said: "He was a long time in front and it was like a schooling session for him. He just popped around and was very good - he'll be even better with a bit of company. Andrew was very impressed with him. He made the rest look very ordinary.
"When Andrew got off him after Cheltenham last year he said he wouldn't want the ground any faster. By the Friday the ground would have been too fast for him. If we get soft ground in the Ryanair we'll be laughing, and we'll be praying for a bit of rain."
Zaidpour landed the odds with the minimum of fuss to take his winning run this season to four in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained 2-5 shot eased into the led under Paul Townend before the third-last flight and had his rivals struggling after that, eventually crossing the line without being asked a question, six and a half lengths in front of Kalann.
Mullins said: "That was straightforward enough. He jumped well and showed lots of speed. He did it well and if I could find another nice race like that I would."
Press Association
