Pal prevails after dramatic finish Potters Pal picked up the pieces in a dramatic finish to the second division of the Glenary Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon. Qaasid came through to lead going to the second last in the two-mile-two contest but stumbled and fell approaching the flight. He brought down both Ballyredinkingston and then Opposite Ends in the process as Potters Pal was left in front. The Tom Cooper-trained gelding asserted before the final flight, for Dan King, to post an eight-length win over long-time leader Marlpark, who had also been slightly hampered at the penultimate flight. Thankfully all three horses involved in the incident at the second last walked back in. "The (Kingdom Red) syndicate are local lads including Gerry Mangan (former amateur jockey) who has been with me for a long time and rode plenty of winners for me,” said Cooper. “Myself and Gerry go back a long time and had this horse for point-to-pointing, when he didn't quite stayed. "He was very keen throughout his racing but the hood made a big difference today and helped him relax - I have great faith in the jockey. "The lads were hoping for the best so they won a few quid as well!" (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
