Pallasator rolls back the years with Gr. 2 hurdle win

Nine-year-old Pallasator showed his younger rivals a clean pair of heels in the Gr. 2 Underwriting Exchange Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday.

There was a great result at Fairyhouse on Sunday as our Pallasator - one of the biggest equine characters seen on a racecourse in recent years - matched his Gr. 2-winning exploits on the Flat when proving too good for his eight rivals in the Gr. 2 Underwriting Exchange Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Pallasator was always prominent under an inspired Davy Russell, kept wide too, the rider perhaps keen to search for better ground, and the pair could be called the winners jumping the second last. Pallasator wasn't too good over the final flight, but he showed plenty of grit to hold off the runner-up Jetz. In third was Scarpeta who had finished fourth to Samcro in a Gr. 1 at the Cheltenham Festival on his previous start.

Gordon Elliott has done extremely well with Pallasator as everyone knows he's been a handful down the years. He has now won the last two of his four starts under Rules for the trainer, as well as winning a charity race under Norman Williamson last October. Whilst we will be sure to celebrate this victory, we cannot wait to see where Pallasator turns up next - it would be fantastic if he could win the Gr. 1 that eluded him on the Flat.

There was also a notable win for Qatar Racing in America on Saturday as Out of The Flames scored at Santa Anita. Making her fourth appearance in the States - and her third for trainer Simon Callaghan - Out of The Flames wore first-time blinkers as she tanked through the race before knuckling down well under Flavien Prat after hitting the front. She's a consistent filly who will hopefully be able to add more black type to her third in the Gr. 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot last summer.

Photo courtesy of Horse Racing Ireland.