Highland Charge and Sean Flanagan jumping the second hurdle© Photo Healy Racing
Highland Charge clutched victory from the jaws of defeat when overcoming a mistake at the last to land division one of the Festival Trials Day Maiden Hurdle at Naas.
Trained by Noel Meade for Gigginstown House Stud, the well-backed evens favourite made most of the running but was headed by Micro Manage after a mistake at the final flight
However, the Fame And Glory gelding was soon galvanised by Sean Flanagan to renew his challenge and got back up to score by half-a-length.
The principals drew clear before the last and there was a gap of 11 lengths back to Perceval Legallois in third.
Meade said, "He nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory but came back again. He made a right hash of it (the last) and Sean said there was no real stride there. He was lucky as he nearly went down.
"Sean says he wants real soft ground, you couldn't get it soft enough for him and coming up the straight it was nearly too good for him.
"He is a chaser for next season, we'll try and find a winners' race now and see where we go from there."
(TW & AM)
