Jordan Norris reports
Teenage talent John Gleeson (18) has had a flying start to the new national hunt season, landing the closing bumper at Down Royal this afternoon and duly losing his 7lb claim.
The Ardmore jockey guided the 11/8 market favourite Ossie’s Lodge, trained by Tony Martin, to a comfortable success at the Ulster venue, scoring with four lengths in hand at the finish to provide the sixth year student his landmark 25th career victory.
Ossie’s Lodge had to navigate through traffic to find a clear path when turning into the home straight, but made gradual improvements throughout, travelling beautifully when it mattered most to power to the winning post ahead of Perfect Nelson.
Already a two-time Grade 1 winner, Gleeson said that he was “delighted to get the new season off to a flyer and lose his 7lb claim.”
Ossie’s Lodge was third in a Listed bumper at Limerick, and Cheltenham Festival winning trainer Tony Martin was delighted to land another success.
“He has always showed us that he is a good horse. He has plenty of speed”, said Martin.
“There is only one winning post, no point in being in front at half-time or with 10 minutes to go. He ran in a Listed bumper and we knew he would come on a lot from that. It was worth going that route with him. We'll see what way he matures, he is only a four-year-old. He's a good-looking horse and John Breslin bred him and has a few more of the family at home. It has worked out really well."
