Alpha Des Obeaux and Sean Flanagan © Photo Healy Racing
Alpha Des Obeaux led home a one-two-three for Gigginstown in the Clonmel Oil Chase this afternoon.
Mouse Morris' gelding bounced back to winning ways in the Grade 2 contest, recording his first success since landing a novice contest at Cork just over a year ago.
Sean Flanagan took the reins for the first time today on the seven-year-old and tucked in behind the leaders in the early stages of the two-and-a-half mile €50,000 feature event.
The pair moved up to challenge four from home and led at the next fence. A Toi Phil was ridden to challenge going to the second last but Alpha Des Obeaux had a bit up his sleeve.
He stuck on well for Flanagan from the last fence to record a five-and-a-half length success at odds of 7/1.
The winner was having his third outing of the season having chase home Total Recall in the Munster National and finished fourth behind Outlander in the JNwine.com Champion Chase.
It was a third win in the race for Morris, who also scored with Belvederian in 1994 and War Of Attrition in 2005.
He said afterwards:- "He had run two good races this year and my horses, the ones that are capable enough, are all running well this year also.
"He was sick last year but hasn't run a bad race this year and this season, he hasn't burst like he did in the spring.
"I'd say he could go back to handicaps now but I'll see what the lads (O'Learys) want to do. The year before last he was always just falling a bit short (at Grade 1 level) and is just that bit short of the real McCoy.
"That's only Sean's second ride ever for me - he fell off the other fellow!"
Galway Plate winner Balko Des Flos was strongly supported on course, going off the 11/10 favourite. He ran keenly and after a mistake at the last with a circuit to go his jumping lacked fluency.
He still travelled well turning for home but couldn't pick up before the second last and plugged on to finish third.
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
