'Frustrating' Sandor Clegane ends three-year winless run to strike over fences at 11th attempt

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Sandor Clegane's frustrating winless run came to an end when he toughed out a first victory over fences under Eoin Staples.

The nine-year-old was a classy prospect in his younger days, placing in Grade 1 company as a novice hurdler and running to a similar level in his novice chase campaign.

However, it had been almost three years since his last win at the 2023 Punchestown festival and this represented a first win over fences.

Staples, riding his 31st winner of the season, told Racing TV: "He’s more than due it. He’s a class horse. He’s been frustrating for the lads, but the job was done today.

“He doesn’t do a whole pile, that’s why the cheekpieces were on. He had a right good look [at the second-last], but he got away with it. Hopefully this will do him a world of good.”

It was the second leg of a double for Staples and trainer Paul Nolan after they combined with Only For Our Man in the 2m6f novice handicap hurdle.

Form franked

Down Royal's St Stephen's Day maiden hurdle won by Sept Etoiles received another boost when Miss Doyenne ran out a comfortable winner back at the track in mares' company.

The six-year-old had run respectably in two starts over hurdles, most notably at this track in December behind Sept Etoiles, who won a Listed handicap at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting last week at 80-1. The second and fourth from that maiden hurdle have also won since.

Darragh O'Keeffe kept things simple on the Henry de Bromhead-trained Miss Doyenne, sitting prominently throughout and taking it up turning into the straight before kicking on to win by seven and a half lengths.

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