Moss Grove and Shane Crimin© Photo Healy Racing
Four times a winner - in point-to-points and on the track - when with Eamonn Fehily previously, 20/1 chance Moss Grove struck on his third effort for the Robert Tyner yard when coming home in front under Shane Crimin in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase at Ballinrobe.
Money came for Definite Soldier (12s earlier into 4s) and Le Feu Garde (20s earlier into 6s) but they could manage no better than fourth and last place respectively, as up front Moss Grove gained the day by two and a half lengths from Willow Grange
An attractive son of Revoque, the Dun Drinan-syndicate owned ten-year-old soon chased the leaders in this near three miler. He improved to challenge before the second last, soon leading and keeping on well from the last for the win.
"He is after running a couple of times for us but he just seems to have come right all of a sudden," said Tyner's wife Mary in the aftermath.
"We are thinking of the head of the syndicate, Henry Wall, who passed away about a month ago. He bred the horse along with Ed Kenneally.
"Some of the syndicate came racing for the first time today, since we got him, so it's after doing the trick! He will go for more of them now, he is in nice and light and he enjoyed himself today."
The Stewards requested a report from Robert Tyner, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Moss Grove, placed first, as compared with its recent form.
Mary Tyner, Authorised representative of Robert Tyner, reported that this animal was under the care of another trainer until October 2015 and raced for the first time under Robert Tyner's care at Wexford on the 22nd July 2016 following a nine month layoff when tiring and reappeared at Kilbeggan on the 6th August where he disappointed by failing to keep going in the race.
She felt that the soft underfoot conditions was ideal for their charge as previous good form had shown but also felt that their charge was ungenuine and temperamental.
Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
(DM & EM)
