Hand Over Fist rallies under O'Connor to win remarkable race

The Henry De Bromhead trained Hand Over Fist ran a remarkable race under Mikey O'Connor to win the Follow Us On Social Media Handicap Chase at Cork.

Leading for much of the opening circuit, the seven-year-old was headed by Bella Bliss with six fences still to jump. Dropping back to third at the next obstacle, the Red Dubawi gelding looked set to weaken out of contention.

Bella Bliss was headed by Hascoeur Clermont three out, as Hand Over Fist rallied to take third.

Moving second after the next, Hand Over Fist came through to lead again at the final fence, staying on to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths.

Mikey O'Connor said: "He deserved that as he is a gallant little horse and tries every day.

"I made much of the running and we went a good gallop but I had to sit off the two horses who got into a little race of their own going down the back straight. He jumped super today and put his head down where it mattered."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.