Askann (near side) gets the better of Classic Concorde© Photo Healy Racing
The 5/1 favourite Classic Concorde looked set for his second win of the season most of the way down the home straight in the Allianz Handicap Hurdle as he held a healthy advantage over the pursuing pack.
An awkward jump at the last proved costly, though, and having lost momentum he was reeled in by Askann (14/1, nibbled at in morning betting from 20/1) as that one kept on best to score by half a length. Sir Ector (33/1) and Se Mo Laoch (11/2) completed the placings.
It was a fourth winner of the season for jockey Simon Torrens, for whom it was a first winner for his uncle Mervyn, who trains the winner for his wife Anne near Omagh, Co. Tyrone.
The winning daughter of Ask had been placed a couple of times over hurdles, and had been second in a beginners’ chase at Ballinrobe on her second last outing, before unseating in a chase at Roscommon on her most recent start.
"On her chase form she had to have a chance, said the winning trainer Mervyn Torrens.
"She had been running well in fairness to her.
"That's always the way she sort of runs - she finishes off her races well. In Ballinrobe where she was second in a beginners' chase she finished like a train.
"We brought her back for a wee confidence booster and she schooled well, so we thought she would run well.
"I had her in blinkers before and I thought she was maybe too keen. We put the cheekpieces on, dropped her out the back and let her creep away. It takes a bit of getting around here.
"A big, galloping track suits her."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
