Hillsdale Shows Grit to Kickstart Campaign

Hillsdale displayed remarkable tenacity as he bravely clinched victory for Philip Dempsey in the initial segment of the 80-102 handicap hurdle at Naas.

Keith Donoghue swiftly took the lead aboard the 11/2 contender and soon found himself alongside the slick-travelling Ricky Bobby as they approached the penultimate obstacle.

The gelding by Westerner showed resilience when called upon at the final hurdle, ultimately prevailing by a two-length margin over his competitor.

Dempsey commented,

"The original strategy wasn't to take the lead. Last time out, he seemed to have it in the bag, but he's quite an eccentric character."

"He's quite a handful, not suitable for inexperienced riders. Keith handled him admirably. He got away from us last time, but I believe the ground was much softer at Fairyhouse."

"I'm thrilled with his fighting spirit today; it's truly commendable. We'll give him another shot, and he'll transition to chasing next season since he's a large horse."

"The owner, Brian Pierce, is absent today, but he has been a loyal supporter of our team."