Fighting Fit and Gavin Brouder win the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Steeplechase© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Philip Dempsey who sent out a well supported favourite to win on the first day of the festival was back in the winners' enclosure after the shock 33/1 win of Fighting Fit in the Lord Hemphill Memorial Handicap Chase at Galway.
Absent since being pulled up at Punchestown in April, the eight-year-old produced a much better performance on this occasion, keeping on strongly under Gavin Brouder to hold the strong challenge of Barnacullia
Held up in the early stages of the race, Brouder moved closer on the run to two out, getting a dream run up the inside to head Benefit Run early in the straight.
At the same time, Michael O'Sullivan was making his move on Barnacullia around the outside, coming to the near side rail. The pair settled down to battle it out up the run-in but it was the J.P. McManus owned Fighting Fit who found extra to record a fifth career success.
It was a first Galway festival winner for Gavin Brouder and also his first in the colours of leading owner J.P. McManus.
Philip Dempsey, “Last year just didn’t go right, he had niggly problems the whole time. He never got a proper run at it last year and it’s great to get him back today.
“He had a little break after Punchestown and we kept him going because of his hiccup last season. It’s great to have him back in good order.
“He could go to Listowel and it looks like he’ll probably get further judged on that. He didn’t travel early and lost his position a bit but his jumping was very good and kept him in it.”
The Raceday Stewards interviewed R.P. Geoghegan, rider of Sole Pretender who sustained an injury before the turn for home. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that he felt his mount was not moving correctly at the time but was unaware the injury was as serious as it turned out to be. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that R.P. Geoghegan was in breach of Rule 216(ii)(a) and Rule 216(iii) by failing to pull up and dismount a lame or injured horse as soon as reasonably possible to do so. Having considered his record, the Raceday Stewards suspended R.P. Geoghegan for 50 racedays.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
