Warreedy and Denis O Regan (near side) head Rudy Catrail at the last © Photo Healy Racing
The 11-y-o Warreedy (14/1) took the Castlerea Handicap Chase for Brian McMahon and Denis O’Regan.
After the 15/8 favourite Arctic Light (who got in as second reserve) fell when tracking the leaders four out, Warreedy could be seen travelling best as long-time leader Rudy Catrail tried to maintain the gallop in front.
O’Regan waited until the last before pushing out his mount for a comfortable six length win from Rudy Catrail in second.
Rated a modest 71, the winner, in a first-time hood, has been very lightly raced and this was a first career success on only his twelfth start.
Warreedy was off the track for more than four years before being pulled up at Downpatrick last year, and this was his first outing since then.
Winning trainer Brian mcMahon said: "The hood probably helped a bit.
“Denis has ridden for me before but not on that fella.
“He’s a horse a little bit short of confidence but the way he was working at home he had to have a right chance off his mark.
“He’s only rated 70 and I thought he’d got to be better than that.
“As I said he was a bit short of confidence and no better man to give him that than Denis.
“He dropped out, took his time, and he’s come through them brilliant.
“We’ll take our time now. He’s an eleven-year-old and he’s run only a handful of times. He’s taken this long so we’ll enjoy today with him.”
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
