Formidableopponent is left clear after Un Beau Roman crashed out at the last © Photo Healy Racing
Formidableopponent ran out a fortuitous winner of the Irish Examiner Beginners Chase scoring under Mark Walsh (replacing Paul Carberry who broke his collarbone at Killarney yesterday) for Noel Meade.
The well-backed 11/10 favourite (2/1 this morning and from 11/8 on-course) Un Beau Roman was clear and one the bridle approaching the last but he failed to take out his landing gear and crashed out under Paul Townend.
This left Formidableopponent in a clear lead and he kept on well on the run-in, winning easily by thirteen lengths. Raydari (25/1) finished second under Davy Condon for Rodger Sweeney while Sizing Sahara (8/1, was 4/1 this morning) was a further seven lengths back in third under Davy Russell for Henry De Bromhead.
Frank Berry, racing manager to winning owner JP McManus, said afterwards: "We had a bit of luck on our side. He jumped away well and he likes that ground. We will find a nice little handicap for him somewhere."
The winner, who won a point-to-point for Warren Ewing in March of 2011, was returned a 7/1 chance.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
