Drumlee (right, blinkers) comes through as Dandridge falls© Photo Healy Racing
Drumlee came home strongest in the Corrib Oil Handicap Chase to land the spoils for Martin Brassil and Mark Walsh at Ballinrobe.
Unfortunately we had a fatality here, after Sin Miedo came to grief at the sixth, and there was more drama when the pushed along Dandridge went at the second last when still in front.
The J P McManus owned Drumlee (first handicap chase) overcame slight mistakes four out and at the next, sweeping by Afatcat on the run-in for a six length win.
Brassil remarked: "It's nice to get a bit of luck for a change. He handles the ground and today was the first day he actually settled straight away. That will do his confidence a bit of good and we will see if he can build on that."
The Stewards fined Martin Brassil, trainer, 350 Euros for lodging a passport in respect of Drumlee, in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91.
The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
The Stewards requested a report from Martin Brassil, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Drumlee, placed first, as compared with its recent form.
Martin Brassil reported that he only acquired this animal in the spring and having run too free in his races, the tactics were changed today where he was dropped in off the pace and he only arrived going to the last fence travelling well which enabled him to finish his race.
Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
(DM & EM)
