Drumconnor bounces back to form Drumconnor Lad bounced back from a disappointing display at Leopardstown in March to take the Daily Mirror Handicap Chase. Successful at Navan in February, the Adrian Keatley trained eight-year-old then finished seventh of ten in a Grade B contest over two mile five on his handicap debut at Leopardstown. Back to two miles today he was sent off a 6/1 chance with Roger Loughran aboard for owner David Keys. Prominent throughout on the outer, the son of Winged Love was ridden to challenge before two out, and picked off the front-running Draycott Place from the last, going to prevail by two and three parts of a length. The aforementioned Draycott Place plugged on to take second under Conor Brassil for John Ryan at 20/1, while Tisamystery (8/1) was three lengths back in third for JJ Slevin and Henry de Bromhead. Our Dougal was sent off the well-backed 5/1 favourite (from 7s), and he finished a disappointing last with Robbie Power aboard for de Bromhead. Loughran said afterwards: "He's a proper horse in his own right. At Leopardstown he got blinded at one fence down the back and he didn't come out of it and the next two he was slow at, so I just sat down on him and let him coast home after that. "Once he warmed to it after three or four fences, and started travelling, I was able to push on and push on. I knew it would take a good one to get by me from the third last. He's improving." The winner is entered in Kilbeggan on Friday, and is likely to run there. STEWARDS REPORT * The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Our Dougal, trained by Henry de Bromhead, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have an exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage. Additional reporting by Michael Graham
