'We might get another!' - Flat trainer Harry Dunlop lands first jumps success

Friday: Uttoxeter

Group 1-winning Flat trainer Harry Dunlop notched his first winner over obstacles when Branson Missouri, the sole jumps horse in his yard, cleared away with the 2m handicap hurdle under Sam Twiston-Davies.

The standout success of Dunlop's career so far came when Robin Of Navan won the Criterum de Saint-Cloud in 2015, but he returned to his roots with Friday's success having started out in Lambourn as assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson.

"We've been second quite a few times!" Dunlop said. "I had a very good bumper horse ten years ago who was second in a Grade 2 and we ran him at Cheltenham. I had the idea to buy a jumper rather than go juvenile hurdling with a Flat horse."

Anthony Bromley purchased the mare on behalf of the trainer for just £12,000 at Doncaster in September and that now looks money well spent.

"We thought she'd give us some fun, it's a syndicate of a few of my owners. I've always been interested in jumping, my son rides out for Jamie Snowden and loves it as well, so it's a family connection."

The trainer, who named three-time winning juvenile Aaday In Asia among his best prospects for 2022, added: "I think we might get another [jumps horse] on the back of that!"

Bally battles on

The 2m4f handicap hurdle was won in gritty style by 10-1 chance Ballybegg for Kerry Lee and Richard Patrick.

Pullled up on his two most recent starts, the application of first-time blinkers appeared to rejuvenate the six-year-old as he recorded his third career success.

Results, replays and analysis

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