Pairofbrowneyes records comfortable success

Pairofbrowneyes ran out a comfortable winner of the Christmas Party Raceday December 6th Handicap Chase, scoring under Mikey Fogarty for Lar Byrne and the Fibbage Syndicate.

Formerly trained by Liz Doyle the six-year-old son of Luso finished third on his debut for Byrne at Down Royal last month.

Sent off the 5/4 favourite today he raced mainly in second and improved to dispute after the fifth last.

He hit the front before two out and kept on well from there, going on to score by a length and three parts. Leap Dearg who was sent off the 15/8 second favourite, finished second under Phillip Enright for Robert Tyner.

Barry Murphy said afterwards: "I'm assistant trainer to Lar (Byrne) at the moment but hope to have my licence in about three weeks time.

"I'm doing the last three days of the course this week, and have some nice horses to start off with.

"This fellow ran well in Down Royal and probably needed it. The ground was a bit lively there as well but is was lovely for him today and he travelled well.

"He'll probably run over fences at Leopardstown over Christmas.

"He has the option of going back over hurdles but he's always looked the type to do better over fences."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee