Thedancingfarrier (nearside) and John Gleeson challenge at the last© Photo Healy Racing
John Gleeson overcame a scare at the final flight aboard Thedancingfarrier to take the Blackwater (QR) Handicap Hurdle - a leg of the European Gentlemans League for Qualified Riders - at Cork.
The Paul Kiely-trained gelding was given a patient ride with Gleeson rousting the 11/1 chance up on the outer to mount a challenge after the penultimate flight.
Jamie Codd got a lovely run up the inner on 9/4 favourite Indie Belle and, together with Highland Penny there were three horses in the air together at the last.
Gleeson’s mount was awkward at the last and the young rider lost his right iron but he showed a cool head and some tenacity to get the ten-year-old up in the closing stages for a half-length win.
Highland Penny also kept on well in second, with Indie Belle finding no extra a further three lengths back in third.
Kiely said, "For some reason he seems to love this place, maybe it is the level track but he does seem to like it around here, although all his form had been on softer ground.
"My brother Richie normally rides him as an amateur but the race was part of 'The Gentleman's League' and John was drawn to ride him. John is a local lad to us from Dungarvan so I'd know him and I was happy to have him.
"Today was the plan for a while and he'll run away for the summer although I wouldn't run him on fast ground."
(TW & AM)
