Lawful Ruler beats Hunt Away in driving finish The Paul Stafford trained Lawful Ruler got up close home under jockey Tadgh Stafford to just edge out Hunt Away in a driving finish to the John Thomas McNamara Series Maiden Hunters Chase at Cork. Sent off 22/1 in the colours of James Joseph Stafford, the seven-year-old came through to hold every chance early in the straight. Pressing Hunt Away from three out, little separated the pair after jumping the penultimate fence. Gradually wearing away at the latter's slim advantage, Lawful Ruler got up close home to win by a head. It was a first winner for jockey Tadgh Stafford, nephew of the winning trainer. James Stafford, father of the winning 19-year-old jockey, said "Tadhg loves racing and always has done, so this is a wonderful day. He'd love to stay race-riding but is a tall lad so his weight might come against him. "Tadhg rides out for Paul (Stafford), my daughter Abbie, who has a handlers' license for point-to-pointing and also for Conor Maxwell and Ian Donoghue. "I'm the farrier at Tattersalls, so buy a few horses every year and picked this horse up as a three-year-old." Trainer Stafford added "we hummed and hawed about running back so quick after his Downpatrick run but he loves that better ground. He was very well during the week, was at the beach and ate up, so we took our chance. "Tadhg rode him with loads of confidence and jumped so well for him." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
