Double for Darragh O'Keeffe © Photo Healy Racing
20/1 shot Glamorous Nellie stormed home on the run-in, under a power-packed ride, to give Darragh O'Keeffe a quick double on the card at Clonmel today.
The 7lb claimer has sprang to prominence in the last few weeks and was seen to good effect when conjuring a late burst from the Liz Doyle-trained mare.
Having led early she was passed by Apparition after a couple of flights as the pair went clear of the field.
The front pair came back to the field three from home and Glamorous Nellie was under pressure in fifth turning for home. Ingleby Mackenzie looked to have come with a winning run going to the last but O'Keeffe hadn't given up on his mount and she jumped into second over the last before chasing down the leader on the run-in.
She got up close home to record a half-length success. The winner was making her third outing in handicap company having finished well held on her two previous runs and was fitted with blinkers for the first time today.
Doyle said afterwards:- "She tried to do everything wrong and somehow we won. She hasn't been very genuine and I thought she'd have run much better in her last two handicaps. Blinkers kept making her mind up so it's great.
"I told Darragh to be positive and try and do something different today but she got taken on and dropped back. To come again and beat a nice horse means there's something there but blinkers did everything today and straightened her out."
Winning owner Willie Cullen, who bought the winner for E1,000 as a three year old, is a former trainer and described today's win as being "worth a Gold Cup to me!"
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
