Jamesmicheal (Brian O'Connell) leads Myles Ahead and Redrobin over the last© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer John Brassil ended a fruitless spell on the track, going back to the Limerick Christmas Festival in 2011, when Jamesmicheal landed the Munsboro Maiden Hurdle at Roscommon.
Brassil also owns this Blueprint gelding and Brian O'Connell was aboard the Galway third placer and narrow Killarney bumper runner-up (from last July) on this occasion.
A 10/1 chance here, Jamesmicheal got the best of an exciting three pronged tussle up the straight.
A good jump at the last helped Jamesmicheal and he eventually prevailed by a length and a quarter and a length from Redrobin and Myles Ahead
O'Connell explained: "He was just touched off in a ladies bumper at Killarney. He ran at Galway the last day and finished third and he probably improved a lot from the experience. The step up to two and a half today made the difference and he has grinded it out quite well."
The Stewards interviewed B.T. O'Connell, rider of Jamesmicheal, concerning his use of the whip in this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Regulation 10.3(f), in that he used the whip with excessive frequency and having considered his record, suspended him for two race days. (DM & EM)
