John O'Riordan
Killeemore Lad completes a double for Slattery family
Killeemore Lad and Andrew Slattery
© Photo Healy Racing
Successful earlier on in the evening with Cloud Seeker trainer Andrew Slattery and his son of the same name, combined to record a double when Killeemore Lad justified favouritism in the concluding Big Boss Events Handicap at Limerick.
Well fancied when runner-up at Listowel on his most recent start, the six-year-old was sent off 9/4f to recover those losses.
Held up in mid division for the early part of this race, Slattery asked his mount to make ground on the run out of the dip, moving into second place early in the straight.
Despite drifting to his right, the gelding headed long time leader Power Drive over a furlong out, keeping on strongly to win by a length from the fast finishing Curious Bride
The winner received a great reception from the winning syndicate and Slattery said: "It is great as the lads who are mainly based in Cork and mainly Urlingford in Kilkenny. They bought this lad during the year and he won in Hexham and Kilbeggan last year.
"I think he is improving and I ran him today with 10st1lb as I want to go for the amateur handicap at Galway with him, if he can get in off bottom weight. Andrew thinks he is improving all the time.
"He was unlucky in Listowel the last day when he was drawn 1 but missed the break, so it was game over although he stayed on at the finish.
"He needs to have good ground, he could go chasing and hopefully they'll continue to have great fun with him."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.