Brave front-running Warrior follows-up on Listowel success

Warrior Brave followed-up on his win at Listowel on Saturday, as he made all in the SP Or Better Guaranteed With Tote At Fairyhouse Handicap.

Upped 10lb for his recent success, the Ross O'Sullivan trained five-year-old was sent off a 9/4 chance (7/2 early) under Gary Carroll.

Drawn in one and sent straight to the front, he was ridden and pressed by Master Matt a furlong and a half from home.

He stuck to his task gamely inside the final furlong and came home three-parts-of-a-length to the good in the colours of Eleanora Kennedy.

The aforementioned Master Matt (9/1) had to settle for second under Billy Lee, while Dream Today was a further six-lengths away in third.

Successful over the course and distance last Thursday, Secret Road was sent off the 2/1 favourite and he finished a disappointing fourth under Colin Keane for his father Ger.

"A horse that has proved so frustrating in the past has now turned out to be a star! It's great for Eleanora," said O'Sullivan.

"He won last week in Listowel, on Saturday, and this race popped up in the calendar quick. I had seen it beforehand and if we had missed Listowel we were going to come here anyway.

"He's a horse that likes doing what he does out in front and the blinkers worked well.

"Obviously the handicapper gave him 10lb the last day but the ground suited and the track with a bend is similar to Listowel, even though we're going the other way.

"He proved so frustrating in the last year-and-a-half but he fell down to a mark that he's capable of winning off and that probably gave him the chance.

"Like them all he'll probably climb back up and hit his level again but we're after having two wins with him which is the most important thing."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson