Robin De Roost (second from top) is in a four-way battle from the second last fence© Photo Healy Racing
The Tom Gibney trained Robin De Roost maintained his unbeaten handicap chase record at Wexford today, adding the Michael Moore Mercedes Athlone Handicap Chase to his May win at Punchestown.
The son of Robin Des Pres won from his initial 91 debut chase rating at the Co Kildare venue and today, again under jockey Jonathan Moore, defied a 6lbs hike when beating Shake The Bucket by a neck. There was some minor bumping in the closing stages and while a stewards’ enquiry was called, the result remained unaltered.
Afterwards Gibney, whose biggest win came in another handicap chase when Lion Na Bearnai won the Irish Grand National, stated “he battled really well; he has shown real battling qualities on his last two runs but we weren't sure that he had those qualities. It was great to see it.
"He was under pressure a long way out and I wasn't too confident looking at him coming around the home bend. Fair play to him, he kept pulling it out of the bag. We'll just keep tipping away with him, looking for more of the same.
"It does look like he will get further than that, and we'll probably try him over further in time. We'll definitely be thinking of Galway, and we'll see if there is anything suitable for him there. He is still pretty low in the handicap."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
