Westerner Point (Philip Enright, winner, nearside) is locked in combat with Drumacoo (Barry Geraghty) over the last© Photo Healy Racing
The last fence was the deciding factor in the Book Easter Festival Tickets Online At fairyhouse.ie Rated Chase as Westerner Point came out on top. Drumacoo looked like he might have the upper hand going to the final obstacle but Westerner Point cleared it faster in the hands of Philip Enright and that ultimately proved decisive.
Try as he might Barry Geraghty couldn't get Drumacoo back to the front and the 5/2 favourite failed by a nose at the line.
Pace-setting Call It Magic gave way from between the final two and ended up twenty eight lengths back in third.
"I think it took him a while to get over Liverpool. He didn't travel great over there and didn't eat or drink," disclosed winning trainer Eoghan O'Grady.
"We thought we had him right for Mallow but he just ran very flat. He came back to himself today.
"There is a race like this again in Thurles in two weeks time and we might give him an entry in that and see how he is. We'll see after that then, one step at a time.
"The jump at the last made a difference but he got a bit lazy on the run-in and ran on again when the other lad came to him."
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Bay Of Freedom trained by Peter Fahey, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
K.C. Sexton, rider of Bay Of Freedom trained by Peter Fahey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was pulled up having never travelled and jumped poorly throughout the race.
A.W. Short, rider of Portrait King trained by Patrick Griffin, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped to the left throughout this race.
(GC & EM)
