Alpesh Amin (far side) beats Teescomponentsyess © Photo Healy Racing
The 4/1 favourite Alpesh Amin won the the Mollys Late Bar Handicap Hurdle under substitute rider Mark McDonagh after his intended partner Conor McNamara was stood down due to a fall in the second race.
A course and distance maiden winner at the Christmas festival, the six-year-old went on with Teescomponentsyess on the run to the second-last and managed to repel the sustained challenge of that rival by a neck.
Winning trainer Eric McNamara said: "He did it well, liked the soft ground and had won here last Christmas. He wants a trip, is a genuine horse and jumps particularly well. He is a Flemensfirth, is going the right way and will jump a fence in time.
"I'm delighted for Olivia Long who has been a great patron and is a wonderful woman and huge thanks to her."
Regarding the substitution of his son, full professional jockey, Conor McNamara for 5lb claiming jockey Mark McDonagh, he added "Conor was a bit dazed but is ok and I had quite a bit of explaining to do to the stewards to get Mark (McDonagh) on the horse but they were understandable.
"Mark had been placed on the horse twice in the past so was the obvious candidate and if Conor wasn't riding him, Mark would have. But a big thank you to the stewards."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
