Muzak battles to hat-trick glory

Muzak landed a fabulous hat-trick with a battling success in the Foley's Bar & Off Licence Handicap Chase at Sligo.

Robbie Dunne produced John Monroe's charge to lead before the penultimate fence but he had to knuckle down in the closing stages.

The well backed Instant Impacked (10/1 in morning, returned 11/2) tackled the 9/2 shot at the second last and after he had got his measure going to the last it was 7/2 favourite Sean Airgead (5/1 this morning) who emerged as a big danger at the final fence.

Dunne found a willing partner as Muzak stuck his head out on the run-in to get home for a two-length success.

The winner is becoming something of a star at the western venues having scored at Galway and Ballinrobe in his previous two outings. He was recording his seventh career success.

“I thought the weight might catch him out today but he's so game and you can't get to the end of this fella,” said Monroe.

The Moscow Society gelding has been something of a late bloomer and Monroe explained:- “He had a number of problems and had laminitis as a young horse but he has really come good now.

“We'll look at going for a good handicap at Fairyhouse at the end of November. He deserves a crack at a big one now.”

Dunne added:- “He's so tough it's unreal. I thought I was beat halfway going around there but he just comes alight under you and goes again. He keeps on pulling out.

“I would have rode him as a five-year-old on that type of ground and that's just about right for him. He wouldn't want it any deeper.”

(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)