Fad Eadrainn makes winning return in Clonmel finale

The Patrick Foley trained Fad Eadrainn made a winning return to action when staying on best to take the concluding John Walsh(Mainstown) Memorial INH Flat Race at Clonmel.

With the form of his previous three runs having worked out quite well of late, the six-year-old was sent off joint second favourite behind the market leader Cuckoo Valley 5/6f).

Making headway under two furlongs out, the John Gleeson ridden winner led inside the final furlong and despite jinking left, kept on strongly to see off the favourite by a neck.

Pat Foley said: “He’s been very consistent and has strengthened up a bit, although it was a worry coming here that the ground changed as much as it did.

“I told John to ride him to get home and he gave him a serious ride. He’s a nice horse and we think a lot of him.

“He’ll be a lovely horse going over jumps. We won’t be killing him with racing as he’s still filling out into his frame.

“If a winners’ bumper came up in about a month’s time we might consider it or we could run him over hurdles.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.