French Dynamite leads home McNamara National '1-2' Local trainer Eric McNamara enjoyed a dream result in the featured BOYLE Sports JT McNamara Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) at Limerick, as French Dynamite led home a stable '1-2'. A former graded winner, the 10-year-old had run a big race on his stable debut when third in the Kerry National at Listowel last month. Sent off 16/1 under Paddy O'Brien, the Shane Carmody owned gelding travelled nicely in mid division before taking closer order on the final circuit. Moving third early in the home straight, French Dynamite came through to challenge Aspurofthemoment at the second last. Leading at the final fence, the eventual winner kept on strongly to hold stablemate Weveallbeencaught by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Eric McNamara said: "There seemed be more money for Weveallbeencaught but it was hard to separate them on form and both ran very well in Listowel. I'm over the moon and couldn't have asked for a better result. "I have two very sporting owners and Shane Carmody lives in Adare, so is local and has been a great owner to us. Also myself and Tadhg Moynihan (owner of runner-up Weveallbeencaught) go back a long time but sadly he buried his younger brother earlier this week so couldn't be here today." He added "They are two smashing out-and-out three-mile chasers and while some had doubts that French Dynamite wouldn't stay, I hadn't any doubts and he stayed today. He was too keen in Listowel but Paddy switched him off today and gave him a super ride. "Both horses could go to the Paddy Power but I'd like to think at least one of them could turn up in an Aintree Grand National, especially French Dynamite." Regarding his reasons for purchasing French Dynamite, he added "I felt he fitted the profile of the likes of Real Steel for me, as both horses had dropped in the handicap and were solid horses. "We had been buying so many store horses over the years but so many don't get to the track and so many are no good, so I decided to go down this line and it has worked. "It is brilliant to win this race twice in-a-row and especially to win John Thomas' race who was so close to all of us." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
