Jamie Spencer took the riding honours at the penultimate session of the Listowel Festival meeting when partnering a 41/1 double aboard Pantarez and Senor Benny.
The 35,000 euro Harp Lager Handicap was the feature event on a seven race mixed card, and Spencer brought proven mudlark Pantarez from virtually last to first in the straight to score. The David Wachman-trained gelding drifted slightly left when delivering his challenge inside the final furlong but stayed on well to beat Pepperwood by a length.
Senor Benny, runner-up to Commoya here on Tuesday, reversed the placings in the opening six furlongs handicap but only after a ding-dong battle from the furlong pole. Spencer's mount found a bit extra in the final 100 yards to score by a length, and trainer Kevin McDonagh said, 'We made too much use of him here the last day but he's a hardy old devil. He's a great jumper, and will go over hurdles this winter.'
Traverse, the subject of Hector O'hEochagain's television series 'Only Fools Buy Horses' was up with the pace but floundered on the testing ground inside the final furlong to finish eighth.
Spencer is now on the 78 winner mark for the season, and nearest rival Pat Smullen is now 23 adrift although he was also on the scoresheet aboard Loyal Focus. The Moyglare Stud home-bred belied a lack of market confidence (2/1-3/1) in the nine furlongs maiden, produced between horses by Smullen to lead a furlong out and keeping on well to beat Purple Spirit by a length and a half.
Michael Kinane was seen to good effect in the other Flat race on the card, the seven furlongs handicap, on Fit The Cove. The Harry Rogers-trained gelding was promient throughout, and answered every call from the multiple champion to hold on by a head from Rathgowney Lad.
'He had a good man on his back, who knows him inside out. After he won in Galway, Mick said to bring him here and he'd win again. He's tough and seems to be better on a tight track,' said Rogers.
Galway Plate runner-up Risk Accessor got back on the winning trail when easily landing the odds against just two rivals in the two miles and three furlongs conditions chase. Conor O'Dwyer had the J P McManus-owned gelding in front soon after flagfall, and stretched clear from five out to record a bloodless 20 lengths verdict over Takagi.
'He's been running well but just been unlucky a few times, and it's nice to get him a win. He jumped great, and will go now for the National Lottery Chase at Gowran in a fortnight,' said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.
Alan Magee
