'That's magic' - redoubtable Rashaan repays connections' faith once again

Four years after dotting up in the Grade 3 juvenile hurdle at the track's December festival, Rashaan plundered the most lucrative victory of his career with a decisive victory in the Keelings Irish Strawberry Hurdle.

In denying Not Many Left to secure the €41,300 prize, the Colin Kidd-trained seven-year-old took his earnings to around €250,000, the sort of sum connections were reckoned to have repeatedly spurned when the son of Manduro was making such a big impression as a three-year-old.

The Aga Khan cast-off had set back Kidd and owner Victor Treacy just €8,500, so the opportunity was there for them to turn a quick and significant profit. However, Treacy, now in his early eighties, always insisted he had waited long enough for a good horse.

While Rashaan might not have quite progressed to elite company, he has been some money-spinner and in winning this Grade 2, he was scoring for a 13th time across both codes.

Rashaan came across Off You Go, who proved one-paced in third, and the gallant runner-up Not Many Left, as Davy Russell sent him on between the final two flights, and connections had to survive a lengthy stewards' inquiry. But such was his eventual superiority he was never likely to be thrown out.

Colin Kidd: delighted with Rashaan's victory at FairyhouseCredit: Patrick McCann

"That's magic," Kidd said after welcoming back the 16-1 winner. "He won that Grade 3 hurdle here four years ago, so to still have him sound and come back and win a Grade 2 on Grand National day is special. He probably lost his bottle a bit over fences, but he was always a better horse over hurdles."

Kidd trains just four horses in Bagenalstown, the hinterland of none other than Willie Mullins. Suffice to say, he doesn't share the perennial champion trainer's ambition.

"I'm always open to more but I'm happy doing the four, five or six that I might have," he said. "I've no aspirations to train 25 horses with staff and all that goes with it. Once the four you have are capable of winning, that's all you're looking for."

As for Treacy's decision not to sell in 2015, he added: "He still wouldn't sell him! But why would you? Look at the fun we're getting out of him."

Get ahead of the game with Get Your Eye In - exclusive Saturday preview content on racingpost.com and the Racing Post mobile app from 2pm on Friday