Toon River© Photo Healy Racing
Toon River is a bit of a course specialist around Gowran Park and recorded his third career victory, all of which have been at the Kilkenny track, in the At The Races Careys Cottage Handicap Chase this afternoon.
The ten-year-old made all the running, under Davy Russell, in the two-and-a-half mile contest and battled on well in the closing stages despite a tendency to jump right.
He had a hairy moment four from home when hampered by a loose horse but escaped serious trouble.
Mary Hallahan's charge was strongly pressed three from home by Snooze and 7/2 favourite De Benno He stuck on well, however, as the former crashed out two from home.
De Benno cried enough before the last and Letter Of Credit came through to claim the runner-up spot but could only get within two-and-three-quarter lengths of the 8/1 winner.
"He's very tough and he deserves that win. He tries very hard and the drop in company helped him," said Hallahan, whose charge had finished a well-beaten sixth in the Thyestes at the track last time.
"He loves Gowran and is happy from two-and-a-half mile plus. We might mix it and go over hurdles the next day as he has a nice mark over hurdles."
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
