Magnificent seven for Church Mountain Having scored on six previous occasions, the Denis Hogan trained Church Mountain made it win number seven when staying on strongly in the testing conditions to land Division l of the Munster Suite @ Limerick Handicap at Limerick. Always to the fore under Joey Sheridan, the 16/1 chance headed long-time leader Vierson over two-furlongs out. However, that move was immediately covered by Colin Keane, who loomed up alongside on 5/2f Martinelli. Given that his two most recent wins had come over ten-furlongs, Church Mountain was always going to stay this mile exceptionally well. As the front two battled it out inside the final furlong, the Denis Hogan trained seven-year-old gradually took control to run out an easy two-and-a-half length winner. Martinelli held up to take the runner-up prize from the fast finishing Thrifty Of Digby, with the well supported Starting Monday back in fourth. Joey Sheridan said: "I've won four races on him now and won on him at the Galway festival in the past. "He is an old monkey and shows up when he wants to but Denis' horses are starting to hit form now. We went through a lull over the winter so Denis gutted the place and the horses are really starting to hit form." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
