Silver Friend is driven out by Brian O'Connell from Way Up In The Air in second© Photo Healy Racing
Silver Friend battled gamely under Brian O’Connell to see off the challenge of Way Up In The Air to land the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap Hurdle for trainer John Joe Walsh.
The ten-year-old son of Silver Patriarch was sent off at 8/1 this evening, having run well in competitive handicap hurdles on his last two starts at Leopardstown.
The lightly raced gelding chased the leaders in the early stages and came with his challenge at the third last.
He was on terms with the leaders at the last and he stayed on best on the run-in to win by two lengths at the line.
The Robert Tyner trained Way Up In The Air travelled strongly before the last under Phillip Enright but a slow jump at the final flight didn’t do her any favours and she couldn't peg back the winner as hard as she tried.
The Pat Hughes trained Speed Dial kept on well under Tim Carroll to take third, a further length back at 12/1. Jim Will Fix It was the gamble of the race for Seamus Roche and Davy Russell. He was 12/1 this morning with Paddy Powers but opened on track at just 7/1 and was backed all the way into 9/2 favourite at the off.
The eight-year-old gelding, who was wearing cheekpieces for the first time, led after the fourth last but once headed after two out he could offer no more and finished fourth.
John Joe Walsh said afterwards: "I thought we would have no winner today as we had two seconds earlier (Whiskey And Rye & Steady Ed .
"He loved the ground and he’ll be kept on the go when the ground is soft.
"He has had a few hiccups in the past but he is back on song now. His owners are from Millstreet, Mallow and Dublin (thePetendjodecke Syndicate)."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
