CHARLES Byrnes of Ballingarry saddled Shoot First (22/1) to win the valuable Befair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.
It was in the young Dublin 5lb claiming jockey Alex Harvey that Byrnes entrusted his challenger for the £100,000 contest, one which was run in dreadful weather conditions.
The winner had finished fifth on his most recent outing at Galway last month after being off the track for two years and clearly improved for the outing, much to the delight of his pilot.
“He ran great in Galway after a two-year break. He jumped and travelled there today, but he’s still a big raw baby and pricked his ears when he hit the front. I think stepping up in grade he’s going to be even better, so he’s an exciting horse and will jump a fence in the future,” the 21-year-old said.
He added: “Charles is very good at placing his horses and we could see him in March (at Cheltenham) given he won there two years ago.”
