Ballylibert in a thriller

The Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase provided a pulsating finish with three horses holding every chance on the long run-in and, following a protracted photo-finish, Ballylibert came out on top by the minimum distance. Tory Hill Lad made a bold bid from the front but was reeled in by the main pack at the final fence where Ballylibert took over.

However Philip Enright’s mount was soon strongly pressed by both Killcara Boy and Limerick Lane with the latter ultimately providing the chief threat.

The photo print showed that Ballylibert (8/1) scored by just a nose from Limerick Lane, with the unlucky Killcara Boy a length away in third and Tory Hill Lad fourth.

Killcara Boy’s rider was almost unseated after a mistake three out and she lost her irons for a while.

Winning trainer Robert Tyner said, “Philip gave him a great ride and he jumped great. If you tried to plan it you couldn’t plan it better as he got a nice lead and needed company. I thought he was beaten 50 yards out but he fought back.

“He loves that ground and if there was any give in it he wouldn’t have been here. I’ve a race at Clonmel in mind later this month. He was balloted out of Killarney which probably worked in his favour as he missed a bit of work after Roscommon.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes