Sin Palo (white face) tried in vain to contain Muirhead at Galway© Photo Healy Racing
Despite having a field of just five, the Ryans Cleaning Chase developed in a fascinating battle of tactics in the concluding stages as Noel Meade and Paul Carberry bought up a double with the short-priced market-leader Muirhead at Galway. Glenstar departed at the fourth last fence jumped (normal four out omitted due to low-lying sun) and hampered his stable companion A New Day in process. Sin Palo was making the best of his way home at this point and there was cause for concern for backers of the 4/7 shot Muirhead before the straight.
However Carberry, earlier successful on Silverhand pulled the Flemensfirth gelding to the stand's rail in an effort to conjure up a winning burst.
The turn of foot produced by Mrs Pat Sloan's nine-year-old couldn't exactly be described as electric but he got there on the line, the grade one winning novice hurdler and Munster National hero from last October, prevailing by a head.
Meade explained in the aftermath: "He is on his way to the Kerry National and we were trying to give him as easy a race as possible.
"He's only just won by a head but I'd suppose an inch is as good as a mile.
"The Kerry National is still the plan if he comes out of this alright and Cross Appeal definitely goes for that race too." (AM & EM)
