Unanswered proves far too strong for his rivals

Unanswered completed a four-timer in convincing fashion when taking the Killarney Grand Hotel Handicap to send punters home happy in the finale on day three of the July Festival meeting.

The Tony Martin-trained gelding came here on the back of Flat wins at Limerick and Gowran plus a handicap hurdle success at Punchestown last time and was sent off a strong 5/2 favourite.

The John Breslin-owned dual-purpose five-year-old was rousted along by Ben Coen to lead under quarter of a mile from home but was well on top inside the final furlong recording an easy two-and-three-quarter-lengths verdict over Lariat Abstract was a further half-a-length back in third.

Coen said, "The race was a bit messy and you don't want to let the leaders get too much of a run on you here but to be fair he pegged them back well. He stays very well but races lazily and never really travelled at all with me.

"From riding him before, I knew that's the way he races and I gave him a dig at the bottom of the straight and probably ended up getting there a furlong too soon. He got lairy in front but to be fair to the horse he stuck his head out well.

"He is improving away and is a nice horse going forward."

Quotes by Tom Weekes