18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Lewis a welcome winner for Nolan

Sun 16th Oct 2016, 16:57

Wilcos Mo Cara (blue) and Summerhill Lewis jump the last together Wilcos Mo Cara (blue) and Summerhill Lewis jump the last together
© Photo Healy Racing

Summerhill Lewis (7/1) got up close home to beat the favourite Wilcos Mo Chara in the Ticket Sales Online Handicap Hurdle.

Making his debut in handicap company, the five-year-old son of Beneficial was providing trainer Paul Nolan with his first win since May.

Settled in mid-division by Jonathan Moore, who had a winner at Ffos Las yesterday, the successful bay gelding took closer order from the fourth last.

He came with his challenge on the outer approaching the next, and improved into a share of the lead before the last.

The aforementioned 5/1 favourite Wilcos Mo Chara came away from that flight the quicker, and that looked to have sealed the deal, however Summerhill Lewis rallied gamely close home, getting up to score by a neck.

The front two went three lengths clear of Summer Storm (11/2) who completed the placings in third, with Rachael Blackmore in the saddle for John Hanlon.

James Nolan, the winning trainer's brother, said afterwards: "We thought a lot of him initially but he was quite keen in his maiden hurdles and it was my mistake running him on deep winter ground.

"He'll run in something similar next and hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him as he only just got up to win."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.