Raise You Up continues on an upward curve Raise You Up is on track for the final of the series at Punchestown after digging deep on the run-in to land the Connolly’s RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle at Naas. The 11/8 favourite made most of the running but was joined by Grey Jude after the penultimate flight and the pair were in the air together at the last. Danny Gilligan’s mount responded gamely in the closing stages and kept on well to beat Grey Jude by two lengths. Dunleer Crystal was a further seven lengths back in third. Winning trainer Ross O’Sullivan said, “He’s a horse that has progressed. He was good in his maiden hurdle, but it was hard to know what he beat. It probably wasn’t the strongest maiden hurdle in Limerick but he has come forward. “His jumping was so good today, even when it was nip and tuck and he needed it over the last two. I think jumping was the winning of the race. “He should progress into a lovely three-mile horse. “Jamie Codd recommended him, and he was second in a point-to-point for him. Richard (Murphy) was keen as he had missed out on a horse last year that Jamie had recommended that turned out to be a very nice horse. “He’s done nothing but improve all year, and he wasn’t really a bumper horse. As you can see his jumping makes all the difference. “He’ll probably go for the final of this series in Punchestown. We’ll look after him and mind him, he’s a horse that could go chasing next year.” Quotes by Gary Carson
