Hidden Crack and Shane Butler clear the last© Photo Healy Racing
Hidden Crack recorded his fifth career win, and third at this track, when making virtually all for a gutsy victory in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase.
It was also a welcome success for trainer Seamus Fahey who was getting off the “cold list” following a six-month absence from the winners’ enclosure.
Shane Butler soon had the 10/1 chance at the head of affair, and the nine-year-old Lahib gelding stayed on well in the straight, with an awkward jump at the last making little difference.
He galloped on to beat Mister First (9/1), who blundered at the last, by four lengths with Zardsky (10/1) a further three and three quarter lengths away in third.
Fahey said, “He’s a bit of a rogue as everyone knows but he likes this course. The rain didn’t do him any harm and it may have inconvenienced some of the others. It’s a good prize and all credit to JP (McManus) for sponsoring the series.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
