Perseverance pays off with Lispopple

Lispopple repaid the faith shown in him by owner Michael Fagan when claiming the second division of the 80-95 handicap hurdle at Roscommon.

The Philip Fenton-trained gelding had been well beaten on his most recent outing at Wexford and went to post a 22/1 shot in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

Brian Hayes produced his mount to dispute over the third last and he got to the front on the run-in, pulling away late on for a five-and-a-half length win.

“Perseverance was the answer here. I wanted to sell him after his last run and we had a buyer in the yard but Michael (Fagan) rang me to say we'll give him one more go,” said Fenton.

“He jumped better today and he's just grown up a bit. He's like a horse that could win again, he won so well.

“He handles the soft ground, he was fourth one day in Naas in a big field on heavy ground.

“When the rain came we said it might improve his chances. We would have been satisfied with a place.

“He'll get a break at some point but I'd say we'll go for another handicap in the next three or four weeks.”