Another for Donohoe

Irish trainer Shane Donohoe, who saddled four winners at Musselburgh a month ago, got his Ayr raid off to a good start when Up Above made all the running to win the New Year At Ayr Racecourse Novices’ Hurdle.

The five-year-old, a 3-1 chance, was keen to get on with it in the hands of promising apprentice Andrew McNamara and went to the front from the outset.

Despite tending to jump to the left, he was still at the head of affairs turning for home with favourite Malt De Vergy, who eventually finished fourth, travelling well in second and looking a danger, only to make a mistake which halted him in his tracks.

Donohoe’s charge kept up the gallop to score by five lengths from Double Vodka and the trainer said: “He can’t get his jumping right, but if we ever do he might make up into a fairly decent horse.

“We had thought of running him in the two and a half mile race later on, but we found out that Howard Johnson was running Hard At To Follow, he could be a very good horse, so we went for this easier option.”