Declan Lavery who rode Supreme Doc© Photo Healy Racing
Local jockey Declan Lavery rode a well-judged waiting race on Supreme Doc to win the hunters chase at Downpatrick for William O'Brien.
The seven-year-old gelding stayed on stoutly up the hill to prevail by three and three parts of a length from Harps Counsel (9/2) with 5/2 favourite Casson another three and a half lengths away in a deadheat for third with Gold Ducat (4/1).
Jubilant owner Declan Dorgan from Cork said: "The main shareholder in the horse is Charlie Walsh from Waterford City who is in his seventies.
"He was unlucky in Kilworth where he was beaten on the line. He has to have good ground. We backed him today. It was five hours up from Cork but worth it for my first winner on the track.
"That's the first time Declan Lavery sat on him. It was very hard to get a jockey with all the point to points on today but thanks must go to Liam O'Brien as I said to him I needed a jockey that would hang on to the horse.
"He did exactly what he was told. The horse should go for a winners hunters chase at Mallow on Easter Monday."
Jockey Chis Cully received a two-day suspension for "failing to take all reasonable measures to ensure his mount obtained the best placing". He was on board Casson who was caught close to the line by Gold Ducat to end up in a deadheat for third.
Michael Graham
