Jesse Evans digs deep for Grimes glory

Jesse Evans made a successful return to the jumping game with a determined display in the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Grimes Hurdle at Tipperary.

Noel Meade’s talented dual-purpose performer was unable to get involved when contesting the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot a fortnight ago but having previously impressed over hurdles at Ballinrobe, the nine-year-old was among the market principals for this Grade Three contest at 7-2.

With 5-2 favourite Gaucher faltering on the run to the final flight, it was Barry Connell’s veteran Enniskerry who looked most likely to emerge victorious after taking over the lead, but Jesse Evans dug deep on the run-in for Donagh Meyler and passed the post a half-length to the good.

“He’s been great and has brought the owners all over the place and was in Ascot not so long ago. He’s a yard favourite,” said Meyler.

“He’s ground it out and is as tough as nails. He had a nice weight on the ratings and had match fitness on his side which definitely paid off there.

“He’s toughed it out the whole way up the straight. I’m not sure what plans are but he’s won a Graded race today and we’ll celebrate that.”

Meade was at Bellewstown, from where he told Racing TV: “I’m absolutely thrilled – he’s a little diamond. He’s not very big, but he wears his heart on his sleeve and he rarely runs a bad race.

“Jumping helps him as he’s a very slick jumper and he’s a marvellous horse. He’s won a lot of money – Flat, fences and hurdles.”

On future plans, he added: “I don’t think he’d get home in the Galway Plate. We’ll probably enter him in case the ground came up really good, but any time we’ve run him over further than two miles, it didn’t work.

“I’d say it’s unlikely we’ll run him in the Plate and I don’t think we’ll run him in the Galway Hurdle again either. He’s run well in it before, but he’s at the top of the handicap and it would be very hard for him.

“If he went to Galway there’s a chase there he might run in instead, but we’ll see.”