Ag Obair Go Crua lands gamble for Flavin at Gowran Park Unplaced on all seven previous starts, the John Flavin trained Ag Obair Go Crua justified good market confidence when keeping on strongly under Darragh O'Keeffe to win Division ll of the Racing TV Handicap Hurdle at Gowran Park. A seven-year-old son of Mahler, the gelding had shown some definite improvement on his most recent run when keeping on to finish sixth at Tramore. Fitted with first-time cheekpieces this afternoon, the 4/1 chance (from 12/1) chased leader Leroy Leroy, before going on after the third last. Pushed along entering the straight, Ag Obair Go Crua found plenty from the back of the penultimate flight, keeping on well to win by one-and-a-half lengths. John Flavin said: "He was the runner I really fancied today as my others probably needed their runs. Darragh being on board is worth an extra stone and he is an unbelievable rider, and especially on this type of horse. "We have had him a while so I'm delighted to get his head in front. He likes ease in the ground. "The main man David Whittey in the syndicate is from Waterford and he got a few of his friends together. The horse hadn't been straightforward so the lads had to be patient but thankfully it has all worked out." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
