THERE was no luck for any of the Irish-bred or Irish connected runners in the Grade 1 Jonathan Sheppard Hurdle run at Saratoga on Wednesday.

Danny Mullins had travelled over to ride the Keri Brion-trained Irish-bred Going County but he was no match for the 2020 US Jumps Horse of the Year, Snap Decision.

The eight-year-old put up a brilliant weight-carrying performance, giving a stone and 10lb to Going Country and beating him by 13 and a quarter lengths in the two mile and three furlong hurdle, with Graham Watters in the saddle for trainer Jack Fisher. The former British-trained Redicean took third ahead of Peter Fahey’s former Grade 1 winner Belfast Banter, now trained by Cyril Murphy.

It was Snap Decision’s second Grade 1 of the summer following his success in the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes at Percy Warner Park in Nashville in May. The son of Hard Spun made most of the running, chased by Chief Justice, before scooting clear before the home straight and being eased down before the line.

Rider Graham Watters told NYRA.com said: “I’ve been riding for 15 years and he’s a horse of a lifetime and if I’m just mentioning the horse’s name, I get emotional about him. He’s an absolute legend of an animal. He’s a tiger. All I’ve got to do is unleash him. I’ll never come across another one of him. I’ve just got to soak it all up.”

Keri Brion was pleased with her runner-up, and commented: “I’m thankful that Danny came over here to ride him and gave him a great ride. He’s a fun horse and he was not expensive so you can’t be too upset with running second to Snap Decision. We’ll get him with The Mean Queen in a couple of weeks.”