O'Connor drive gets Na Trachtalai up

Na Trachtalai Abu got up close home to win the Munster National 11th October (Qualified Rider) Handicap Hurdle.

The James Motherway trained five-year-old went down narrowly on his last start at Tipperary and he was sent off the 5/2 favourite this evening.

Settled towards rear by Derek O'Connor he made progress through the field from the before the fourth last.

He travelled strongly into second before two out and while he was soon on terms he needed to driven out on the run-in to see off Best Value by half a length.

The runner-up, who lead from after the second, was returned at 14/1 under Johnny King for TJ Nagle.

The Denis Hogan trained Ocean Glandore was a further three and three parts back in third at 9/2. Springfield Grey was backed from 5/1 to 7/2 on-course and he finished fourth.

Motherway said afterwards: "He has to be dropped in and things didn't work out at Roscommon when he raced with the pace and did too much.

"Derek played away with him and said he's a horse that if you fight him, he'll fight you. The hood (wore it before) helped keep the lid on him today and he needs that trip.

"He jumps fences like a buck and will make a nice good ground chaser next year. We'll have a look at the handicap hurdle at Galway next Sunday."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes