Final Check and Andrew Slattery win the William Hill Handicap at Killarney. © Photo Healy Racing
Trainer John O'Donoghue, who was also in the winners' enclosure on Monday night, paid a return visit after his Final Check stayed on best to take the William Hill Epic Boost Handicap at Killarney.
A never nearer fifth on handicap debut over 7f at Cork last time, the daughter of Expert Eye relished the extra distance here, keeping on strongly under Andrew Slattery to lead inside the final furlong. Water Mint had made much of the running under Tom Kiely-Marshall but that one was being pushed along early in the straight. Andrew Slattery got a dream run up the rail on Final Check and just did enough to hold the late burst of So Messi
The well supported Partisan Hero kept on from out of the pack to finish third.
Winning trainer John O'Donoghue: "She is a very well bred filly and the brief from early was to win a race with her. I'm delighted to be training for the Rogers family, she is the first one they sent us and it's a winner so long may that continue.
"Once Andrew got stuck in, she started to rally and he was patient up this long straight. She held on.
"I think we'll stay at a mile for the time being and see how far up the ladder she can go. She has a tremendous pedigree and if she is anything like her siblings, there is a little more in the locker."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
