Hogan trains and rides big Leopardstown winner

Cloughjordan’s Denis Hogan showed his riding ability was still on point by piloting his own trained Frankie John to victory in the Donohoe Marquees Maiden Hurdle on the final day of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival on Monday.

Favourite Jalon D'doudairies went on from Irish Champ three out, but Frankie John had him in his sights. The pair moved on from their rivals and had the spoils to themselves as they raced to the last. It was nip and tuck along the run-in, but Frankie John's grey head was a definitive leader in the closing stages and he took the honours by half a length at 11/2.

Jalon D'oudairies, the 6/4 favourite, had to settle for second, thirteen lengths clear of long shot Rusty Harkness. The front two bumped each other in the closing stages, but the result stood after a steward’s enquiry handing Hogan his first win as a rider in over two years.

“When he got to the front, he was a bit lairy,” Hogan said.

“I knew we’d have to dig deep to be involved, never mind win. He can win staying hurdles and he’ll be exciting to go chasing next year.”

He added: "I have to thank John Mahon and my parents who were offered plenty of money for him. It wasn’t enough for them, and they wanted to enjoy racing him.

“It’s important for me to have a horse like him in the yard and thanks to them for letting me ride him. I haven’t been riding all year and I’m still not one hundred per cent fit. I rode a couple during the week just to get my eye rightly in. He’s exciting and it’s good to have him.”

Frankie John now has a point-to-point, a bumper at the Galway Festival, and a maiden hurdle in the book as is now a first show of 40/1 for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in March.