Shrew purchase pays dividends

Shrewd Investor proved a wise bet as the 13-2 shot floored hot favourite Secret Ploy in the £100 Bonus at betdirectuk.com Maiden Hurdle at Bangor.

The six-year-old gamely held his main challenger by a head in the hands of David O'Meara after a terrific tussle from the penultimate flight, with the pair drawing 16 lengths clear of Double Eagle in a three-mile slog on testing ground.

It was only Shrewd Investor's second run in Britain since he was bought privately in Ireland by Harry Hogarth.

The delighted Stilllington trainer said: "He just gallops and stays - he's not the fastest thing on four legs.

"He needed the run at Uttoxeter and will come on for this run as well. He's a chaser in the making but he's not had much experience."

Meanwhile, there was a stirring end to the New Betdirectpoker.com Beginners' Chase with the 10-11 favourite L'Antartique obliging by a length from the persistent Regal Heights.

Graham Lee had to get busy to keep his rival at bay as the duo pulled a distance ahead of Killing Me Softly after dominating proceedings from four out.

"Graham said he kept quickening up even in this ground and he's learning his job well," said trainer Ferdy Murphy.

"He's just wanted a bit of time, even though he won two of his four races over hurdles, and has been green over fences so far.

"He'll keep improving and we'll just keep chipping away with him to give him more experience. Novice chasers need it as they go handicapping the following season."

Dandygrey Russett (9-2) showed her run behind the useful Blythe Knight on this course was no fluke by outpointing odds-on shot High Life by one and a quarter lengths in the New betdirectcasino.com Mares' Only Maiden Hurdle.

Barry Leavy's mare made all the running under Jodie Mogford and refused to give in as High Life made his bid in the straight.

"It's a learning curve as she doesn't settle, that's why she has to make all," said the Stoke-on-Trent handler.

"She should have been favourite as she ran Blythe Knight to three lengths, but horses trained by fancy trainers were preferred to her in the betting. The form was there in black and white.

"We bought her off the Flat. She suffers from splints and it's taken her time to come to herself.