SHAHRUR came on the market as a sequel to the tragic death of her trainer Alex Scott and he was bought as a prospective jumper by Michael Smurfit. His only run in England had been in that historic newcomers event, the Wood Dillon Stakes at the Craven Meeting, where he finished in the ruck.

Proof that this was far from being the true indication of his ability was forthcoming when he ran over hurdles in unsuitably soft ground at Listowel in March and finished in second place to Red Tonic.

He ran for the first time on the flat in Ireland at Down Royal and it was a most stylish run. Held up, Pat Shanahan sent him to the front at the two furlong pole and he then sprinted clear to put a dozen lengths of daylight between himself and The Director.

There could be a lot of improvement still to come and Dermot Weld is happy to run him with top weight in the Barlo Merrioll Radiators Tipperary Cup at Clonmel this evening when Pat Shanahan again has the ride. His prime opponent is Blues Project who has managed to win races on the flat and over hurdles this year and gets 1lb but might not have the scope of the top weight.