Farringdon helps brighten Dobbs' mood

Prunella Dobbs gained a measure of compensation for the serious injuries suffered by Fiery Lord in race four when Farringdon landed the www.thetote.com Steeplechase under Andrew McNamara.

Favourite Alpha Ridge made the running but jumped out to his left and he hit three out after which Bobs Pride and Farringdon closed. The latter came through on the run-in, to score readily from Alpha Ridge and Bobs Pride.

Mrs Dobbs said: "Pleasure and tears at the same time. I told Andrew going out to cheer me up and he has. He rode him to perfection as if he hits the front too soon he stops.

"He has taken to jumping so well. He is getting more confident all the time. We'll take it step by step with him as he'll need more experience yet before he tackles the like of Punchestown fences.

"He has been just so consistent through his career. We are waiting on x-rays with Fiery Lord but he appears to be severely injured although the vets are not quite sure the exact nature of it.

"He is the most gorgeous of horses, a half-brother to Kicking King. It is hard on the owner, Jim O'Neill who waited two years with him after he got injured at Wexford. I only had him 6 months and I thought he was an exciting horse. That's racing though."

Unfortunately Hellyhunter who fell five out here, was fatally injured.

Clerk of the course Lorcan Wyer later updated on Fiery Lord: "He is staying at Ballinrobe tonight and Ned O'Flynn the vet is coming from Galway tomorrow to x-ray him."