Warrior Brave overturns odds-on favourite

The ground looked to be a worry for Warrior Brave in the Hurling For Cancer August 21st Race at Naas, but he ploughed through the testing conditions for a comprehensive victory.

The five-year-old gelding made all under Gary Carroll, but the pair were stalked in a close second by the favourite Carrytheone and Ben Coen.

The favourite couldn't go with Warrior Brave on the climb to the final furlong and Gary Carroll saw his opportunity as he rode his mount clear in the final 150 yards.

The 8/1 shot sluiced home by three and a-quarter lengths from Carrytheone (10/11f).

Trainer Ross O'Sullivan's wife Katie Walsh said: “That was brilliant. He was bought for Eleanora as she wanted a horse to go to Ascot. He's got her there twice but he definitely operates better on a bend.

“He's won twice for her now when she's come back from America, in Listowel and Fairyhouse a week later. All of her family are over today and she's absolutely over the moon.

“We didn't know if he'd operate on the ground, mind you he wasn't tried on it that often. With his action, we thought he'd appreciate it a bit nicer.

“The blinkers seemed to have put a bit of spark back in him and he's definitely going the right direction.”

This was Warrior Brave's third victory from his last four runs, having finished out the back in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson