How the HRI can help jump trainers by following Flat's lead on claiming races

When you spend €5,000 on a horse you cannot expect to rock up to Leopardstown on Classic Trials day, never mind win. But that is exactly what the John McConnell-trained Zahee did on Saturday. In fact, that was Zahee's third win for McConnell since he was picked up out of a Dundalk claimer on behalf of the 119 Partnership a year ago.

It is not the first time McConnell has found riches at that basement level. During the winter, the dual-purpose trainer snapped up Mulgrave out of Eddie and Patrick Harty's stable and the four-year-old made an immediate impact for his new owners when winning back-to-back handicaps and climbing 19lb in the process.

In doing so, Mulgrave dispelled any myth that horses in claimers are a spent force and rarely have an upside to them. If you look hard enough, as McConnell has proved time and time again, there are bargains to be had.