Ashes comes good for Byrnes

From The Ashes justified good support when claiming the Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase at Gowran for father and son team Charles and Philip Byrnes.

The Ocovango gelding went to post an 11/4 shot in the two-and-a-half mile contest having been as big as 6/1 this morning. Irish Blaze went into a clear lead after a couple of fences but started to come back to his field five out and was joined three from home by From The Ashes and 9/4 favourite Optional Mix

It boiled down to a duel between the long-time leader and the eventual winner going to the last and From The Ashes just had the edge at the final fence where Irish Blaze blundered Jordan Gainford out of the saddle.

The Byrnes-trained gelding went on to record a two-and-three-quarter length success over the staying-on Hurricane Darwin

"He was a frustrating old horse and had been threatening but not delivering,” said Byrnes senior.

“We rode him a bit more positively today and they went a proper gallop which probably helped.

"The ground couldn't be tough enough for him and today's race rode more like a three-mile race as the ground was very sticky."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)