20:30
Irish Champions Festival Handicap
1m4f180y, Flat, 3yo+, 10 runners
Winning time 2m 46.97s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Result
Chris Hayes
Noel Meade
Settled midfield - 4th at halfway - pushed forward to hit the front 2f out - repelled a late rival's bid inside the final furlong - prevailed by the narrowest of margins at the line
Jimmy Dalton (10)
David Harry Kelly
Settled in midfield - 5th at halfway and wide entering the straight - driven over 1f out and broke away with the winner inside the final furlong - battled on but narrowly denied in the closing strides
Rory Cleary
Ms Sheila Lavery
Held a midfield spot early - 6th at halfway - improved into 4th with 2f left and moved left making contact with another runner - up to 3rd inside the final furlong - stayed on at one speed to finish 3rd
Ben Coen
J P Murtagh
Held up towards the back early - still 8th at halfway - improved into 5th when pressed for effort 2f out but bumped there - stayed on same speed through the final furlong to finish 4th
James Ryan (3)
Dermot A McLoughlin
Held up in the pack - urged forward 3f from home - boxed in with 2f left before shifting right for room - stayed on same gait to finish fifth
Colin Keane
Chris Timmons
Handy early - second at halfway - hit front approaching 2f out but soon lost that advantage - dropped away inside final 2f - finished sixth with nothing more to offer
Keithen Kennedy (5)
Charles O'Brien
Held up towards the back - 7th at the midpoint - asked for effort with 4f left - seriously hampered with 2f to go - unable to find more and well held at the finish
Seamie Heffernan
Thomas Mullins
Sluggish start - settled at the back before losing touch and pressed along 3f out - well held at the finish
Ronan Whelan
Dermot Kilmartin
Set the pace early - urged to keep up the effort over 3f from home - lost command approaching 2f out and had nothing more to offer - dropped away rapidly and finished well behind
Gavin Ryan
John Joseph Hanlon
Sat close to the pace early - third at halfway then given encouragement 3f from home - clipped heels and lost rider when squeezed for space inside the final 2f
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.