Shot From The Hip put himself bang in line for a tilt at next month's Champion bumper after running out the impressive winner of the finale at Leopardstown today.
Edward O'Grady's six-year-old had not run since scoring on his debut at Clonmel last September, but the absence did not prove to be a handicap as he travelled well throughout in the hands of J P Magnier and showed an excellent turn of foot to pull effortlessly clear of his highly rated rivals.
The 8-11 favourite, John Kiely's much vaunted Auracaria had asbolutely no anwser to the 6-1 winner's turn of foot and could never get in a telling blow.
Bookmaker reactio nwas swift, with some going just 8-1 for the Champion Bumper at next month's Cheltenham Festival. The best price available is 12-1 with Totesport and Victor Chandler, and given his shrewd connections there is every chance that won't last long.
