18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Empresario back in business

EmpresarioEmpresario
© Photo Healy Racing

Empresario made his return to fences a successful one when running out a game winner of the Meath Farm Machinery Handicap Chase at Navan.

Bryan Cooper produced his mount to lead before the second last in the two-and-a-half mile contest and he looked in control going to the final fence.

Matthew Smith 's charge tired slightly on the run-in but had enough left at the end to hold last year's winner Valours Minion by three-parts-of-a-length.

The winner had finished last on his most recent outing on the level at Galway earlier in the month but had been a good third on the Flat here just two days prior to that run.

"Bryan took his time and gave him a great ride. I knew he was in good order and if the ground was better I would have fancied him big time,” said Smith.

"He's a lovely horse to have. The last day at Galway probably just came a bit soon as it was only a few days after he had a hard race here."

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.