Fair Dilemma (left) jumps the last alongside Marshim© Photo Healy Racing
Fair Dilemma recorded his second success of the week at Listowel as he took the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Harley Dunne for trainer Jimmy Mangan.
The 7yo son of Dr Massini won a novice chase over the course on Sunday and back over the smaller obstacles this afternoon he duly followed up.
Paddy Power put a 9/4 to him overnight but that price was quickly snapped up and he was returned the 5/4 favourite.
As they turned into the straight the Walter Power trained Marshim (who finished second in a handicap hurdle over the course and distance on Monday) looked to be going marginally better than the winner.
However when they settled down to scrap it out, Fair Dilemma found more to win by half a length at the line.
Marshim (3/1) had to settle for second yet again under Declan Lavery while Littletown Lass was a further twenty-six lengths back in third under Kevin Sexton for Sean Byrne at 7/1.
Winning trainer Jimmy Mangan, who was recording his third success of the week, said afterwards: "That's brilliant. I’m delighted for his owners who are from Oranmore.
"He is a tough horse and his only going to get better. He will mix it between hurdles and fences now.
"He had a good handicap mark which I had nothing to do with, thanks go to Val O’Brien (former trainer of the winner) in Galway for that.
"I only have a small team of horses but they are health and well. He is a good fun horse and Harley said that he will stay further than two miles. The ground made it a good test.
"I have good faith in Harley and I rang his agent Gary Cribben to book him for the ride before he was even declared."
(On-course reporting Thomas Weekes)
