Tarquinius pictured winning at Leopardstown on Saturday© Photo Healy Racing
Tarquinius quickly followed up on his win at Leopardstown on Saturday as he took the Fairyhouse Members Handicap Chase providing his jockey David O’Leary with his first racecouse winner.
Trained by Gordon Elliott (completing an across the card double after Roi Du Mee won the feature race at Tramore), the grey 10yo son of Turgeon was recording his third win from his last four outings.
He was given twelve pounds by the handicapper for his success at Leopardstown but he just carried a mandatory four pound penalty this afternoon.
Sent off the 5/2 favourite he was prominent throughout behind leader Shellys Creek He improved to lead at the second last and was soon ridden.
Shellys Creek attempted to battle back under Phillip Enright but the winner stayed on well under pressure away from the last to score by two lengths at the line.
Shellys Creek had to settle for second at 12/1 for Fran Flood while Murchu finished a further eight lengths back in third under Andrew McNamara for John Hanlon at 5/1.
Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "It wasn’t ideal running him back in three days but he was due to go up twelve pounds. We took seven pounds off with the young fella and he is a good young rider. That is his first winner on the track.
"If he sneaks in off bottom weight we might let him take his chance in the Thyestes. He is as slow as a hearse but he stays galloping."
(Additional reporting by Gary Carson)
