Swantykay and Davy Condon approach the winning post© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott's Swantykay mowed down Beckwith Star after the last to win the two mile handicap hurdle in Tramore.
This was a reversal of Galway form as Beckwith Star had impressively won in Ballybrit and Swantykay finished well behind, but he had excuses having had a troubled passage when making a mistake at the second last.
Beckwith Star was always to the fore as he raced in second off front-running Noble Call He grabbed the initiative just before jumping the third last. Rounding the bend for home and Brian Hayes was at work to keep him in front. Swantykay was starting to stay on approaching the last.
The complexion of the race changed upon jumping the final hurdle. Beckwith Star appeared to slow down as he looked for a stride while Swantykay met it in full flow and got away quickly. He forged on to win by two lengths at 4/1. Beckwith Star was a 7/2 joint favourite. He was a length and a half in front of Ram Them All (16/1).
Winning jockey Davy Condon said: “He never got a run at Galway. He seemed to get knocked down everywhere in the big field. He enjoyed the smaller field here as he is not a strong horse, he is still weak. He will make a nice chaser next year I would say.”
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
