Monarch and General share the spoils

There was a thrilling finish to the two-mile handicap hurdle on the card at Fairyhouse with the judge unable to split Mandarin Monarch and Toor General at the line.

Mandarin Monarch fought it out with Effernock Lad going to the last as Toor General came to join the battle.

6/1 shot Mandarin Monarch gained a narrow advantage on the run-in but 3/1 favourite Toor General came to join him passing the line.

The later's handler Tony Martin had a runner in Newmarket today but Andrew McNamara, trainer of Mandarin Monarch was on hand afterwards:-

“The owners were all jumping up and down delighted that he'd won but I wasn't so sure myself.

“I'm probably a bit of a pessimist, a realist I'd like to call myself. We were actually standing directly in the line with the photo finish and thought it was pretty close.

“He's won a couple for us in Dundalk on the level. He's a horse we bought to go hurdling but he missed last summer and missed most of this summer so it's nice to eventually get one over hurdles with him.

“He had a transport accident last summer and then he picked up a little injury at the start of this summer.

“We've missed a bit with his hurdling campaign and if the ground stays like this we'll give him another shot over hurdles.

“I'd imagine we'll have another go at Dundalk as well. He hasn't been overly raced this year so we'll keep him on the go.”