Another Limerick feature goes Henry de Bromhead's way as Its Bilbo bags Listed prize

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Its Bilbo bagged Listed honours for trainer Henry de Bromhead, giving the Knockeen team a second feature race from the four across the meeting following The Big Westerner's success in Saturday's Dawn Run Chase.

Its Bilbo, reverting to hurdles for his handicap debut, had been well beaten in two recent chase starts, but he kept on nicely under experienced amateur Rob James to notch his second win and land the €29,500 pot for the 2m QuinnBet-backed event.

“It panned out very well,” James told Racing TV. “Maybe chasing stood to him. He jumped well, travelled everywhere, and I got there in loads of time.”

Its Bilbo was the first leg of a double for James, who struck again in the 2m3f maiden hurdle with 5-1 chance No Cure.

Shinnick Sees success

Holy See provided promising young rider John Shinnick with some Christmas glory when the William Durkan-trained 11-2 chance saw off Ifallgoeswell to win gamely by half a length.

Runner-up in last season’s champion conditional title race, Shinnick had his first ride for Willie Mullins when partnering Gold Dancer in a Grade 1 on Sunday, and Holy See provided his tenth win of the season.

“Thank God, that gives me a Christmas winner,” Shinnick said. “Last season was great, but this year I have a few higher-profile winners. I'm delighted.”

Hodey gets home

The betting in the 2m6½f handicap chase singled out Duffys Hodey and Hees Dynamite as the ones to concentrate on, but there was only one there at the finish as 11-4 chance Duffys Hodey ran on well after the last to score by four and a quarter lengths under Shane O’Callaghan for trainer Philip Rothwell.

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