It may only have been a race in aid of charity but Sheikh Fahad worked hard to get race fit and his weight down to ride his own horse Brutal and repeat his win of twelve months previous.  It all worked to plan where the esteemed jockey held up Brutal in 4th place and then hit the front as they turned for home.  With no company to race with Brutal began to idle in front at the 1f mark but once he got a few reminders from Sheikh Fahad went on to win cosily.

A win at Leopardstown is always special but as Sheikh Fahad’s mount in 2016 went on to win at the Cheltenham Festival the same plan surely lies in store here.