Oak battles well to score for Cusack

Only four went to post for the handicap chase at Cork but it produced a good finish with long-time leader Majestic Oak battling well to land the spoils.

Paddy Flood sent his mount on at the fourth fence and he stuck at it well down the straight to score by three-parts of a length.

9/4 joint favourite Spring The Que looked a big danger from the third last but just couldn't find a way past and had to settle for second.

The other joint favourite, Second Glance had led briefly in the early stages, but couldn't pick up in the straight and finished seven lengths back in third.

"That's badly wanted. Things went wrong with him last year and I ran him when the ground was wrong," said winning trainer Liam Cusack, who was saddling his first winner since June.

"I was more hopeful today on the nicer ground and it was a nice pot to win. I'll take my time in handicaps with him and he's best when fresh.

"He's part owned by my father Robert and that's good for him as he's not been very well recently."

Gary Carson