Tammys Hill & James Smyth in the parade ring after their win© Photo Healy Racing
The 4/5 favourite Tammys Hill didn't let down his supporters as he recorded his second racecourse win in-a-row by taking the Newmac Contracts Ltd. Hunters Steeplechase over 2m 7f for his trainer Liam Lennon with James Smyth aboard.
The 7yo son of Tamayaz has won five point-to-point's this season and recorded his first track win at Cork on Easter Monday taking a Hunters Chase with ease.
Sent off at 4/5 to follow up today, the bay gelding, who is owned by James Smyth’s father Patrick, chased the leaders early on before improving to lead before the third last.
He was ridden before the last and kept on well from there to score by five lengths at the line from Supreme Doc in second at 7/1 under Declan Lavery, while Casson was a further two lengths back in third at 14/1 for Ian Ferguson with John Barry aboard.
Winning trainer Liam Lennon, who won this race last year with Rowdy Rampage, said afterwards: "He has always been a good horse. He won a point-to-point as a 4yo. When we ran him on the track (earlier in his career) he wasn’t strong enough but he has strengthened up now.
"We will try and win another point-to-point with him now to get him qualified for the champion point-to-point race.
"He is a brilliant jumper and will be kept on the go over the summer and could be a Galway Plate horse."
After the race the stewards suspended winning rider James Smyth for two days for using his whip unnecessarily when he clearly had the race won.
Donal Murphy & Michael Graham
