Sword Fish lands a gamble

The well backed favourite Sword Fish under Alan Crowe, had to survive a Stewards Enquiry before he was declared the winner of the Fairyhouse Committee Handicap Chase.

The Christy Roche trained 7yo son of Sadler's Wells was 9/1 overnight with Paddy Powers but opened on track at just 11/2 before going off the 5/1 favourite.

The 2010 Lartigue Hurdle winner (his last success) was having his fourth start in handicap chase company and carrying just nine stone, eleven pounds, he raced in mid-division in the early stages.

He made headway into fourth at the third last and was second two out before he was ridden to lead before the last.

He jumped right at the last and hampered Good Fella but he kept on well on the run-in to score by a length and a half at the line.

Good Fella (16/1) also stayed on well on the run-in under Martin Mooney for his father Patrick but the result stood after a Stewards Enquiry. Kakagh (8/1) was best of the rest, eight lengths back in third under Mikey Butler for Bill Harney while In Great Form (8/1) completed the placings seven and a half lengths back in fourth under Mark Walsh for Fran Flood.

Frank Berry, racing manager to winning owner JP McManus, said afterwards: "He ran well at Navan up to a point but just got tired on the ground.

"The good ground today was a help and we will find something similar for him now."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee