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Sempo enjoys stamina test to land maiden

Sempo and JJ Slevin jumping the lastSempo and JJ Slevin jumping the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Sempo justified odds-on favouritism when making all for an ultimately convincing win in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle at Thurles.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding won a bumper in fine style on this corresponding card 12 months ago and subsequently finished a creditable sixth behind Envoi Allen in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham.

He came home strongly when runner-up to Cobbler’s Way in a 2m4f maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and this extra quarter mile proved just the trick.

The 8/11 favourite’s jumping was something of a mixed bag but a good leap at the last settled the issue and he kept on strongly under JJ Slevin to beat Minella Encore by six and a half lengths.

Oscar Montel was a further seven lengths back in third.

O'Brien's assistant Brendan Powell said, "He stays all day, jumps well and will be a cracking chaser in a year's time. He is a horse with a future and is still a frame of a horse.

"JJ said when the other horses came to him, he went on again and he has done it well in the end."

Paddy Power trimmed Sempo into 25/1 (from 33/1) for the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.

(TW & AM)

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.