Officers Mess jumps the last under Ricky Doyle, with Lady Mangan (blue cap) on his outer© Photo Healy Racing
Officers Mess and Lady Mangan battled out the finish to the Coast Rosslare Strand Handicap Hurdle, with the former coming out on top under Ricky Doyle.
The Conor O’Dwyer trained victor was making his debut in handicap company today, and was sent off a 7/1 chance for Naas based owner Patrick McCormack.
Sent straight to the front by Doyle, the son of Beat Hollow made all. He was ridden and pressed two out, but battled on gamely under pressure from the last to prevail by a neck.
Lady Mangan (33/1) had to settle for second under Conor Murphy, while the 7/4 favourite She's Made It was another two and a half lengths back in third under Jody McGarvey for Padraig Roche.
O'Dwyer said: "It was worth the wait. He has always been a nice horse. He has been very big and backward, a big tall lean horse. Thanks to Paddy McCormack who owns him, he has given me all the time in the world with him.
"I just thought the ground might be a bit tacky for him, but he has done it well now and he’ll be a nice horse for the future. He will improve a hell of a lot.
"He will stay further. He was a bit green in front, but he is a real nice horse for the future.
"We were stopping and starting with him the whole way through his career. We probably shouldn’t have started with him as early as we did.
"He always showed us a nice bit, he has a hell of a page and a nice pedigree. He will be a nice chaser in time.
"It's lovely to come home and have a winner here."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Stewards fined Mark L. Fagan, trainer, E350 for failing to lodge the passport in respect of Loughnavalley, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 90. The Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Loughnavalley.
The Stewards fined W.J.Lanigan, trainer, E350 for failing to lodge the passport in respect of Shantou Sisu, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 90. The Stewards ordered the withdrawal of Shantou Sisu.
