'Dream horse' Lord Erskine continues to thrive

The evergreen Lord Erskine continues to show that age is just a number as he recorded a 13th career win and brought career earnings to near €400,000 when landing the Executive Helicopters Handicap at Killarney.

Amazingly the 12-year-old dual-purpose gelding won the Irish Cesarewitch nearly eight years ago and has gained valuable handicap hurdle wins at both Leopardstown and Fairyhouse in the last 18 months.

Ronan Whelan was partnering the 13/2 chance for the first time on his 70th career start under both codes and sent him to front at halfway.

The Harry Rogers-trained veteran had all his rivals in trouble early in the straight and asserted well over a furlong out before keeping on strongly for a comfortable four and a half lengths victory. Dark Note took the runner-up spot with 9/4 favourite Ragmans Corner a length further back in third.

Rogers said, “He is a dream and just eats, sleeps and does his work. In fairness to Ronan, we had a plan going out and said if they were going too slow to go on down the back straight, which he did.

"He is a right horse on his day and is a gent. He is a dream horse and was like his late owner Jerry Nolan. James, his brother, has taken over the ownership now and is the same.

"We just couldn't get an ease in the ground in the past few weeks, and the plan now is to go to Galway where he has a few choices. He could run in the amateur handicap on the Flat or in the Galway Hurdle, if he gets slow ground."

Quotes by Tom Weekes