Duhallow Paddy one for the Cronins

William Cronin's Duhallow Paddy (8/1) made the breakthrough at the 12th time of asking in the handicap chase for five-year-olds plus at Galway.

He raced towards the rear in this extended two mile six task before making headway after halfway.

The six-year-old gelding got a lovely run through on the inner coming to three out and closed on the leaders with half a mile to travel.

A good jump at the second last saw move into second at the last just off Braize It's a long way home from the final fence in Ballybrit and Braize cracked off the home bend as Duhallow Paddy travelled well into the lead.

He stayed on nicely to see off Daisy Chicks who came from a long way back, by a length and three quarters.

The runner-up was a 5/1 chance and she was three and three quarter lengths in front of third-placed An Droichead Gorm (11/1).

The trainer's son, jockey William Cronin said: "That is brilliant as he was unlucky two runs ago at Wexford when I hit the front too soon on him and I wanted to hang on to him longer today.

"He jumps great and that's my own first winner over fences.

"He is the owner Mike Moakley's (from Doneraile) first horse and I rode him in a few point-to-points and recommended him to Mike.

"He has been in the money every day and is a real fun horse who is really genuine. Mike and the ould fella (William Cronin senior) are friends for years and he'll get a great kick out of that.

"We have three horses on the go for the track and this fella is our main horse and will continue to mix away between hurdles and fences. Like everyone else we'd love to take a few more horses."

Duhallow Paddy won a point-to-point under Cronin at Kildorrery in February 2018.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes