It’s Bobsled Time lands 250-1 shock at Naas

It’s Bobsled Time ran out a shock 250-1 winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle at Naas on Monday.

The three-year-old had been beaten 50 and 61 lengths respectively in two previous starts and given his trainer Richard Morrissey had not saddled a winner under rules in over 12 years, with few runners since then, it was no surprise he went off at three-figure odds.

However, after being settled off the pace by 7lb claimer Michael Kenneally, the son of Telescope – who is owned by the Cool Runnings Syndicate – began to make headway early in the home straight and finished off well to score by two and a quarter lengths from Ritz Plan.

The winning rider said: “He didn’t have a huge amount of form coming into it, but Richie is a shrewd man and is probably better known for point-to-pointers than anything else.

“They went good and hard early and on that ground they were always going to stop. I was happy to creep away, and he was gutsy and game.”

Veteran trainer Mick Winters enjoyed a double courtesy of wins for Shellrunforbriggs (15-2) in the BAR 1 Casino Maiden Hurdle and River Vale in the John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle.

Of the latter, Winters said: “He’s a fierce kind horse and everybody is mad about him, and anybody can ride him at home.

“He got a hard race over three miles at Fairyhouse and we might have run him a bit soon in Mallow (Cork).

“I’m delighted for the lad who rode him because he’s in (riding out) seven days a week.”