The Abbey comes home an easy winner under Danny Gilligan© Photo Healy Racing
The Abbey recorded his second facile win of the month, as he easily accounted for his nine rivals in the concluding 24th June Ladies Day At Limerick Handicap Chase.
The Gordon Elliott-trained 10-year-old, went up 9lb for his win at Downpatrick and was sent off a 7/2 chance this evening with Danny Gilligan again in the plate.
Owned by the When In Rome Syndicate, of which Gary O'Brien of Racing TV fame is a member, the bay victor raced in mid-division, taking closer order from five out.
Not fluent at the third last, he eased to the front before the next and soon had the race in safe keeping, coming home six-and-a-half lengths to the good.
Successful at Wexford on Saturday, Goodnightngodbless (10/3f) had to settle for second and was 10 lengths clear of Oscar Romero (12/1) in third.
O'Brien, who was on commentary duties this evening, said: "He seems to be in great form this year and we worked out the key to him recently, which is a (staying) trip and a bit of nice ground. He jumped great and Danny was very happy with him.
"He has been a great servant, we've had him since 2019 and he has been placed a heap of times.
"If it ain't broke don't fix it, so I suppose he'll continue in staying chases now. He won well and will get a rise for winning but the way he is going, hopefully will step up again."
He added: "He was the horse on the front cover of the race card at Clonmel for a long time but I think they took him off in the end."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Raceday Stewards fined Gordon Elliott, trainer E65 for failing fit the declared cheekpieces to The Abbey, prior to entering the parade ring.
K. Callaghan, rider of Influential Lady trained by James M. Barcoe, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped quickly.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
