Emir De Rots sticks to his task in claiming hurdle

Emir De Rots made all and toughed it out over over an extended two miles three furlongs in the Slievenamon Claiming Hurdle at Clonmel.

Charlie O'Dwyer sent him on and the pair had all bar Bentham and Politicise beaten on the run to the second-last flight.

His margin was soon reduced, though, and O'Dwyer was forced to exert his arms on the eight-year-old gelding. Both rivals closed but were also under pressure as Emir De Rots came under the whip two out. He wasn't fluent as his two rivals were ridden and try and get on terms with him but the response was from evident.

The leader increased his advantage at the last and it was slow-motion stuff from the chasing pair who were beaten on the run-in.

Conor O'Dwyer's winner scored was returned the 10/3 joint favourite by six and a half lengths from Politicise (4/1). Bentham (10/3jf) was the same distance back in third.

Jockey O'Dwyer said: "I've ridden him a lot and I've always wanted to just do that on him and it is the only way to ride him. It worked out today. Being a claimer, he was meeting a lot of horses on lighter weights than he should although I was thinking the 2m4f might be too short for him.

"I knew he'd stay so I used up plenty (making the running) with his light weight. I didn't want to be headed, the others kept pushing me along and he really wanted to keep his head in front."

Emir De Rots (€5,000) was the subject of a friendly claim.

Politicise was claimed for €8,000 by Nigel Slevin.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes