Foreman wins Irish hurdle

Doumen was bloodied after his victory

French raider Foreman claimed a surprise success in the AIG Europe Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Winning rider Thierry Doumen also trains the JP McManus-owned horse.

Doumen produced his run after putting in a great jump at the last and held off a late charge from outsider Georges Girl (25-1) to win by a head.

Foreman was a 8-1 shot while the Mouse Morris-trained Fota Island (20-1) came home in third place.

The 5-2 favourite Spirit Leader had to settle for fourth place while Davenport Milenium faded in the closing stages after leading for most of the race.

Jockey and trainer Doumen paid tribute to owner McManus for keeping faith in the horse despite some indifferent performances.

"I needed to get confidence from JP McManus and his team," said Doumen.

"The horse has always been there but hadn't quite made it.

I have just been waiting to find the right race for him Foreman's jockey and trainer Thierry Doumen

"He was very good as a young horse. He struggled a bit when he took on older horses for the first time but he is catching up with them now.

"He is tough, still improving and getting stronger all the time," he said.

Foreman will now be aimed at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham but could run in next month's Tote Gold Trophy at Newbury.

Spirit Leader and Davenport Milenium will also remain in the Champion Hurdle entries despite their failures to make the top three on Sunday.

Earlier on the card, Kicking King's odds for the Irish Independent Arkle Chase at Cheltenham shortened after he beat Central House by three and a half lengths to take the Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup.

The Tom Taaffe-trained gelding is now as short as 7-2 for the Cheltenham Festival and he will not run again before that race.

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AIG Europe Champion Hurdle
Leopardstown 2m

1. Foreman (T Doumen) 8-1
2. Georges Girl (FJ Flood) 25-1
3. Fota Island (DJ Casey) 20-1
8 ran. Dist: hd, 1½