The Job Is Right takes the Limerick bumper

After running well on his last two outings The Job Is Right got his head in front today as he easily took the bumper at Limerick, the Riverfest Flat Race. The five-year-old gelding finished half a length second to Benemeade in a bumper at Downpatrick in March and he put in another decent performance last time out to finish third to County Champions at Cork on his last start. Trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by Robbie McNamara (also rode the bumper winner at Kilbeggan last evening), the son of With Approval was sent off the 4/1 second favourite. Having chased the leaders for much of the contest he improved to challenge two furlong from home. He hit the front a furlong and a half out and he was pushed out from there, stretching clear in the final furlong to win easily by seven and a half lengths. Lisronagh point-to-point winner, Potters Cross finished second at 12/1 under Gerry Mangan for Tom Cooper while Bar Stool Bob was a further two lengths back in third under Con McSweeney for Robert Tyner at 13/2. Three time point-to-point winner Run For Firth was sent off the 3/1 favourite under Katie Walsh for Kieran Purcell but he could only manage a disappointing fifth. Michael Hourigan said afterwards: "I’ve always thought he would win a bumper but the saddle slipped out over his backside at Cork the last day and I thought he would win there. "He is a lazy horse at home and I thought the blinkers would sharpen him up but he won’t wear them over hurdles. "He will go hurdling now and he is fitter than ever. Robbie said that he is a fair horse and he couldn’t pull him up. He will go for a three mile maiden hurdle at Killarney now. He wants the ground a bit better than it was today. "His owners, Jim and Mary Devine are very good owners. They are from Kilrush but living in London. Jim is a businessman and he hasn’t had a winner since Deejaydee won at Cheltenham (won the National Hunt Chase at the Festival in 1999)." The winner was bought for just €1,000 as a yearling at Tattersalls Ireland November Flat Sale in 2009 before making €13,000 as a three-year-old at the Goffs June National Hunt Sale in 2011. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes