Lass lasts it out to give Lynch brace Larkfield Lass produced a game front-running performance to land the Bill Dowling Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Thurles for Enniscorthy handler Richie Rath. Andrew Lynch, completing a double on the day following the earlier victory of Castlegrace Paddy, always had his mount up disputing throughout the two-mile seven furlong trip. She was tackled by Queen Khaleesi turning for home but shook off that rival going to the last and stayed on well in the closing stages as Dawn Light Cave kept on to take the runner-up spot, two lengths back. The 12/1 winner was a first success on the racecourse for Rath since January 2017 and he said:- "Last year I thought we were going to struggle and then decided to go back and win a point to point, which she did by 14 lengths. She is slow but stays galloping and this is only her third run in a handicap,” said Rath. "She is a bit small for fences but has been placed in a beginners' chase and can go back chasing again as well. We'll see what she gets for this but she'll go for another 80-95 next. "I have a lot of young horses to run for the summer and have a lot of pointers. People are sending me a lot of Kalanisis because of Fayonagh (by Kalanisi, and whom Rath trained to win her first bumper) and I have a lot of four year olds to run soon in point to points and in bumpers." 6/5 favourite Ballea Fox was brought down three from home when My Forever Friend crashed out. (Quotes by Tom Weekes)
