The grey Call Me Bubbles comes to catch Beach Of Falesa (hidden) on the line© Photo Healy Racing
Call Me Bubbles dramatically just got up to win the last, the Roscommon Handicap, completing a double for his trainer Willie Mullins, owner Susanna Ricci and jockey Pat Smullen. Beach Of Falesa (8/1) for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien looked like she had done enough as she approached the line under a hands and heels drive however Call Me Bubbles surged late and just got up to win by a short head.
The commentator Jerry Hannon and the crowd were deceived by the angle as it appeared to the majority that Beach Of Falesa had hung on.
However the judge saw it differently and Call Me Bubbles was announced the winner to the jubilation of most punters as the 3yo son of Stormy River was punted from his morning price of 5/1 into his opening show of 7/2 and was further backed on track into his starting price of 9/4 favourite.
Had the grey gelding not won he would have been an unlucky loser as he met with plenty of trouble in the home straight whereas the runner-up had a much smoother passage.
The front duo were three and three parts of a length clear of the third who was Positive Vibes at 5/1 for Arthur Moore and Fran Berry.
Winning rider Pat Smullen said afterwards: “I had a nightmare run through and was lucky to get out. Fair play to the horse, he was genuine and stays well. I had a rough passage on the inside but all’s well that ends well."
The winner was stepping up in trip to 1m 4f for the first time today and was recording his first success on the eighth time of asking.
(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
