King Leon and Mark Walsh lead over the last© Photo Healy Racing
King Leon recorded his second win of the season as he took the Tipperary Town Plaza Plate Handicap Chase.
Successful in the Mayo National at Ballinrobe in May, the Joseph O'Brien trained seven-year-old since finished second to The King Of Brega at Limerick.
Dropped in trip to two and a half miles today, he was sent off an 11/4 joint-favourite in the colours of owner JP McManus.
Prominent throughout he made a bad mistake six out. He was pushed along to lead entering the straight for the final time, and he kept on well from there, going on to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Mark Walsh was aboard the son of Mountain High, replacing Barry Geraghty who broke his arm at Market Rasen on Saturday. Coldstonesober (6/1), who won this race twelve months ago, finished second under Kevin Sexton for Jimmy Finn, while Finish In Style (11's to 9's) was a further half a length back in third under Niall Madden (replacing Mark Walsh) for Enda Bolger. Le Grand Chene was the other joint-favourite and he was a further length back in fourth under Jack Kennedy (replacing Bryan Cooper) for Gordon Elliott.
Joseph O'Brien said afterwards: "He's a tough horse and probably wasn't as good a race as he ran in at Limerick the last day when he bumped into one. It's good to get him to win and it is a good pot to get.
"He can make the odd mistake but is good usually and it was probably no harm he did make it (mistake six out) as he winged everything else after that.
"The horses are running well and are healthy so long may that last - in time we'll have a nice team.
"This fellow and Carriganog are in the (Galway) Plate and they'd be touch and go to get in but will run if they do. Tigris River might sneak into the hurdle and Plinth is in it too.
"There is a chance a couple of them will get in - I don't think the entries are as big this year and if they get in, they'll run."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
