Spancil Hill throws a fine leap for David Splaine© Photo Healy Racing
County Clare trainer Michael McDonagh has his horses in good form and after an earlier second placing for his Robyns Approach stable companion Spancil Hill ran away with the Boolavogue Handicap Chase at Wexford.
With David Splaine up the Flemensfirth gelding brushed aside the fact that he'd pulled up on his two most recent starts as he accounted for Rare Legend by twenty three lengths.
Backed from 12/1 into 10/1 Spancil Hill, getting off the mark on outing number eighteen, tracked the leaders on the inner here, and he improved to lead five out.
He went clear travelling well after three out, and pushed out on the run-in, he stayed on well for an easy win.
Jamie Ivors, assistant trainer to McDonagh, said afterwards: "That was good. He was disappointing at Thurles the last day, we thought he'd run well, but something happened to him at the third fence.
"He jumped left, Rachael Blackmore rode him and after that she couldn't keep him in the race. We brought him home and nothing showed up so we brought him here to go left-handed and it paid dividends!
"He was very good and a little bit more impressive than I thought he would be. I didn't think that he'd go on the ground, I thought it was a bit too good for him.
"He is still a young enough horse and is unexposed, he doesn't have that many runs, so there is a chance he will improve away. It is unlikely he will run again until Listowel now because he wants softer ground."
P.T. Enright, rider of Moss Grove trained by Robert Tyner, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled and was pulled up.
(DM & EM)
