Rich Revival is driven out by Brian O'Connell with eventual third Rare Bob behind© Photo Healy Racing
Rich Revival completed his hat-trick and gave his trainer Liz Doyle a big boost ahead of Cheltenham as he took the feature race at Naas this afternoon, the Grade B Woodlands Park 100 Club Leinster National.
Doyle will of course saddle leading Champion Bumper hope Le Vent D'Antan on Wednesday and the yard will be going into that race on the back successive winners, with Glen Beg having scored at Clonmel on Thursday.
Rich Revival was sent off at 7/1 this afternoon, having won his beginners chase at Fairyhouse in December before following up on his handicap debut at Navan last time out.
Upped in trip to three miles today, the lightly raced 9yo son of Turtle Island, travelled strongly into the straight and he found enough off the bridle to see him come home a three parts of a length winner under Brian O’Connell.
Bottom weight Murchu ran a fine race to finish second under Mark Enright for John Hanlon at 8/1 while top weight Rare Bob ran a cracker to finish just a length and a half back in third under Bryan Cooper for Dessie Hughes at 12/1 (he also finished third in this race last year).
Barry Murphy, partner of Liz Doyle, said afterwards: "That was great to get another one before Cheltenham, that will keep us confident before going there.
"I’m delighted to get that win as his aim all year has been the Irish National. We stepped him up in trip to make sure he stays and Brian (O'Connell) said that 3m 5f would be no problem.
"I’m not sure what weight he would get but he should definitely get into it now. Hopefully we will get rain as he wouldn’t want it any drier than today."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
