Rasher gives Lalor first brace

De Rasher Counter produced a good front-running performance to win on his 'track' debut at Clonmel in the concluding bumper.

It was a double on the card for trainer Liz Lalor, and owner Thomas Keating, following the earlier success of Nicat's Benefit in the maiden hurdle.

Roger Quinlan soon took up the running on the 10/1 shot, after a slow early pace, and his mount proved a willing partner in the closing stages.

The Yeats gelding, who won a point-to-point at Borris House last month, had his rivals on the stretch early in the straight and kept on well in the closing stages to beat 5/4 favourite Imperial Way by a length-and-a-quarter.

"I had my first winner here and this is my first double so it proving a lucky track for me!,” said Lalor.

"He is a nice horse and was just unlucky in his point to points - he fell a couple of times when he was going very well and thankfully it all came together today.

"He has a high cruising speed and hopefully he'll be sold now and race in someone else's colours the next day.”

(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)