Lough Ferrib (blue) jumps to the front under Davy Russell from Princeton Plains (white cap) and Shamiran© Photo Healy Racing
The 11yo Lough Ferrib showed his toughness as he battled gamely to win the feature race at Listowel this afternoon, the Grade C Guinness Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by Davy Russell and trained by John Hassett, the son of Accordion was backed from 6/1 into 9/2 on-course and he chased the leaders early on and was fifth at the halfway stage.
He made headway into third at the fourth last and was ridden to challenge two out.
He soon disputed the lead with the 5/2 favourite Princeton Plains and Shamiran but he kept on best from after the last to score by neck at the line from the former in second under Tony McCoy for Eddie Harty.
Shamiran finished a further length and a quarter back in third for his trainer Stephen Nolan with Ian McCarthy aboard at 9/2.
The win was Lough Ferrib's seventh career success and his third over the course. He is now three from three at Listowel.
His trainer John Hassett said afterwards: "Davy is a first class jockey. We will take him home now and admire him for a while."
After the race Davy Russell reported that his saddle started to slip before the second last and he lost an iron close home.
(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)
