Big Debates and Philip Enright win the Kevin McManus Bookmaker Handicap Steeplechase© Photo Healy Racing
Big Debates stayed on best of all to give Robert Tyner and Philip Enright a popular success in the concluding Kevin McManus Bookmaker Handicap Chase at Cork.
In a race, where at one point or another, as least three different horses looked the winner, it was the final late challenge of the locally trained runner that proved decisive. Embittered took up the running travelling easily after the third last, looking to have matters in safe keeping approaching two out. However, Espion Du Chenet took over soon after and went on under Cian Quirke.
The Louise Lyons trained gelding looked booked for race success but remarkably didn't even finish in the first three at the end.
Embittered came with a renewed effort, while both eventual winner Big Debates and Kildorrery threw down their challenges on the stands side.
Robert Tyner said: "when we announced last year that we were packing up training, I offered him to a lot of trainers in England but no one wanted him - I don't know why, maybe it was his age but I told them he'd win nice races, even over hurdles.
"Philip gave him a great ride no doubt, I wasn't convinced he was doing the right thing up the back straight but he left him at it.
"He had a long season last year and was going a long time before pulling up on goodish ground at Fairyhouse (in April). Philip thinks he should stick to 2m to 2m4f."
He added "we are keeping going with 10 or 12 horses and some of them are point to pointers. There were a few not sold and I said I'd keep going with a few ourselves.
"You wouldn't know how long we'd stay going but it will be with small numbers, only what we can do ourselves."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
