Treble joy for Harrington

GIMLI’S ROCK proved a facile winner of the Grade 2 WKD Core Hurdle at Down Royal yesterday, highlight of a spectacular treble for trainer Jessica Harrington, also successful with the Robert Power-ridden pair Bostons Angel and Saville Row.

Winner of the valuable October Handicap at Naas last time, the teak-tough four-year-old mastered disappointing favourite Luska Lad, (eventually finished only fourth) between the last two flight and stayed on in determined fashion to beat longshot Der Spieler with the winner's better fancied stable-companion Summit Meeting third.

The performance of Gimli's Rock delighted Belfast-based owner Geoffrey Ryddock and trainer Harrington who commented: “He’s tough and consistent and never lets us down, He doesn’t really like winter ground and deserves a break now. We’ll bring him back in the spring and might start him in the Red Mills at Gowran in February.”