Moment keeps Hourigan run going Awkward Moment claimed the Cashel Beginners Chase at Thurles but the race complexion changed completely at the penultimate fence. 2/1 favourite Shifa tackled front-runner Rockshandy turning for home but Ruby Walsh was forced to pull up his mount going to the second last after she appeared to go wrong. Awkward Moment, who had tracked the pair, soon came through to grab the lead and stayed on well in the closing stages. The long-time leader Rockshandy kept on again but never looked like pegging back Adrian Heskin's mount, who recorded a three-length success. It continued the fine form of trainer Michael Hourigan's horses, with the Limerick handler recording his fourth success in the space of a week. "He's always wanted better ground," revealed Hourigan afterwards. "He got a touch of a leg when he won his maiden hurdle. If he's ok in the morning I'll probably enter him for the 2m5f novice handicap chase at Fairyhouse. "Winners' of ones are very scarce. He was always doing the best he could to jump out of heavy ground but he just wasn't able to." (GC & TW)
