Le Grand Vert wins on Irish debut for Philip Dempsey For the second race in succession, a former English trained horse making its first start over fences in this country prevailed as Le Grand Vert won the Paul Byron Shoes Handicap Chase at Roscommon. Formerly trained in France and latterly in Britain, the eight-year-old won for just the second time in his career. Tracking the leaders for much of this race, the Philip Dempsey trained gelding moved closer to take second under Donagh Meyler early in the straight. Heading Ocean Legacy two out, the eventual winner survived a mistake at the last to run out a two-and-a-half-length victor. Donagh Meyler: “Philip has done a great job with him. He travelled away and I suppose it was the survival of the fittest on that (soft) ground for summer horses. “I was able to fill him everywhere and he was a nice winner in the end. “It was well spotted by Sarah and Keith (Donoghue) to get him so fair play to them. Philip just said to buck him out and wherever he travels keep it simple.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
