The grey Pat Coyne (Darragh O'Keeffe) leads over the last from Bloodstone © Photo Healy Racing
The Pat & Winifred Woodbyrne Memorial Beginners Chase saw the consistent 13/8 favourite Pat Coyne get off the mark over fences in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe.
The John Nicholson-owned grey headed the front-running Bloodstone (14/1) at the second last and stayed on under pressure to see off that rival’s persistent challenge by a neck. Gelee Blanche (5/1) finished four and three quarter lengths further back in third.
The victorious 7-year-old had won a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan a couple of years ago and wasn’t winning out of turn over the larger obstacles, having been runner-up in his previous three chase outings in handicap company.
Winning trainer John Queally said: "He deserved that. It's lovely to train a winner in those colours, they are famous colours and have been around a long time. It's an honour really.
“He jumps and stays and is a summer horse. We don't have any big aspirations for him.
“He might go to Killarney now next week. He will go back over hurdles somewhere along the line as he has a nice mark over them."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
