But What is driven out by Adam Ryan© Photo Healy Racing
The four-year-old bumper was a slowly run affair which saw But What (7/1) go one better than on Rules debut at Listowel under the very capable Adam Ryan.
A son of the Sea The Stars horse Affinisea who is a half-brother to Irish Derby winner Soldier Of Fortune, But What was settled behind the leaders and moved into contention approaching the entrance to the straight. He picked up well for Ryan to lead over a furlong out and, having idled in front, just managed to hold the fast-finishing Fermoyle by a head. Phils Choice was a length and a quarter further back in third.
It was a fourth bumper winner of the season for 18-year-old Ryan, with three of them supplied by Andy Slattery.
Slattery said of his latest winner: “He’s a proper horse and he said he was pulling up the whole way up the straight when he hit the front. He said when the other horse came to him he couldn’t pull him up after the line.
“He was only 80 per cent fit in Listowel and cantered into the straight but he just blew up.
“My father and mother bred him and own him. My father Billy is actually in hospital so that will be a good tonic for him.
“If he was mine he would be for sale but my father is 80 years of age and might want to keep him.
“They went no gallop and to do that off a slow pace I’d say there is plenty more to come. We could give him a little break and come back for some spring bumpers and keep him for over hurdles next year.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
