Jumping counts as Black Samurai annexes gold

Black Samurai took full advantage of Greenway Machine crashing out at the final fence of division one of the Athlacca Handicap Chase in Limerick.

Greenway Machine came to the last of the 14 fences in this extended two mile three contest with a length advantage, but didn't lift his legs and ploughed through it leaving jockey Cian Cullinan with no chance of staying on board.

Black Samurai had been switched to the leader's inner approaching that obstacle and was left a few lengths clear of Wade Harper and Cluan Dara

The winner kept on to pay favourite backers at 3/1. Runner-up Wade Harper was three and a quarter lengths adrift at 11/1. Cluan Dara came in third, another three and a half lengths down, at 5/1.

Trainer Sean Aherne said: "I put the hood on him today but he (jockey Sean O'Keeffe) told me to leave it off the next day as he was idle with it.

"Sean said he was going to keep galloping away mad and thought he'd win anyway (with Greenway Machine's fall), but it is easy to say that! It wasn't the strongest race in the world but hopefully he'll progress from it.

"He is a fine, big strong horse and is still fairly novicey - he had a fall in Thurles and it didn't help. We'll tip away in that league for the summer and he is a grand horse."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes