Misty Adage scores for Mangan in Clonmel finale

Misty Adage runner-up at Down Royal last time, provided Jimmy Mangan with a welcome change of fortune when taking the MIcrodog ID Handicap Chase at Clonmel.

This 2m7f event would normally have 14 fences but just six were jumped on this occasion as the third last was omitted due to ground conditions and the final two fences in the straight were also by-passed due to the low lying sun.

This meant a run-in of about six furlongs from the last fence (normally four out) but the stamina test did produce an exciting finish with little to separate three of the runners in the final furlong.

Misty Adage, a point-to-point winner at Ballyarthur last spring and providing Mangan with his first winner under rules for over four months, just found a bit extra in the closing stages under Sean O’Keeffe to beat Lacken Bridge by a head.

West Is Best finished a further two lengths back in third.

Mangan said, "She was unlucky to meet one of JP(McManus)'s at Down Royal the last day and her owner, Michael O'Brien from Ballyporeen, intends breeding from her. She may be going to stud in the near future but she has a few more months to run so we'll see."

(TW & AM)