Positive tactics pay off with Lessofdnegativity

Lessofdnegativity landed an off-course gamble in the handicap chase under 7lb claimer Paddy O’Hanlon.

The Westerner gelding, fitted with cheekpieces for the first time, was backed from 25/1 into 7/2 this morning and was returned that price. Always handy, he led three out and stayed on well to defeat Arctic Ambition by a length and a half.

The eight-year-old won three times over hurdles when trained by the late Andrew McNamara senior and this was his first run for winning trainer Andrew (Andy) McNamara who said: “I only have him a short while so I suppose I’m the trainer in name only.

“Henry Lappin (part-owner with Michael Fay) was a friend of Dad’s from college and would have had horses with him for years.

“He’d been working well. His form has always been a bit in and out but he was a course and distance winner (over hurdles) and was well enough in over fences.

“It wasn’t what we planned beforehand but Paddy was right to change tactics the way the race panned out. He rides out a bit for me and that’s his first winner for me - the first of many hopefully.

“He could run at the Limerick Christmas meeting on the same day they run a race in memory of Dad.”

Quotes from Alan Magee