Noel Meade nominated the Galway Plate as the likely big race target for Dantes Battle after the eight-year-old relished the fast underfoot conditions to take the Frank Hannon Memorial Chase in the hands of Paul Carberry at Roscommon last evening.
'Mairead Cahill, wife of Dublin solicitor Finbar, purchased this gelding a couple of days before he won at Tipperary earlier this month. He was bought with the Plate in mind and he seemed to jump better out there today,' said Meade.
The Carberry family struck again later when Philip Carberry, younger brother of Paul, found the winners enclosure after the Flemings Super Valu Handicap Chase when he scored on light-weight Tacolino in very cheeky fashion.
After the Meath rider eased Arthur Moore's charge right down in the closing stages to defeat Luna Fleur and brother Paul by a neck, the winning trainer remarked, 'He's a nice horse but has disappointed us in the past. The fast ground seems to have made a difference with him.'
Pat Flynn has his string in flying form in recent weeks and the Waterford handler brought his seasonal tally to seven, courtesy of Pollardsfield which justified favouritism with a two length victory under Danny Grant.
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