Spider weaves his way to Munster National success

Spider Web finished with flourish to deny outsider Na Trachtalai Abu in the Grade A JT McNamara Ladbrokes Munster National Handicap Chase.

Having won a Grade B contest at Leopardstown in March, the Tom Mullins trained victor then finished second in the Mayo National at Ballinrobe.

He fell on his most recent outing in the Galway Blazers, and was sent off at 12/1 this afternoon in the colours of proud Limerick man JP McManus.

Settled towards rear of the mid-division, the son of Presenting was far from fluent at the ninth.

He took closer order from three out, and was ridden in fourth before the last, powering up the run-in to catch Na Trachtalai Abu in dying strides, going on to score by three parts of a length.

Dylan Robinson was aboard the runner-up, who was returned at 40/1, for James Motherway, while the well-backed 7/2 favourite Black Scorpion was another four and three parts of a length back in third, with Kevin Brouder aboard this one for Eric McNamara. Full Cry completed the placings in fourth, while last year's runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux was fifth.

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, said: "Luke said he missed the last with a circuit to go. He gave him a lovely ride because he had a hard fall at Galway and he sneaked around today.

"He was travelling reasonably well when he fell at Galway and it shook his confidence a bit but Tom Mullins has done a great job getting him back.

"We were hoping his confidence would build up during the race and it did. Luke gave him a lovely ride.

"He doesn't mind that sort of yielding or soft ground and we'll tip away until it gets heavy; it was a lovely pot to win."

Dempsey, who was recording the biggest success of his career to date, added: "I got under the second last a bit and was slow at it. He winged the last and was good and tough. He put his head down and battled.

"He fell the last day in Galway and Tom (Mullins) wanted to get his confidence back. He jumped brilliant and he flew home."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes