Hale Bopp beats Longbourn © Photo Healy Racing
Hale Bopp (4/1) took the concluding Tote-sponsored handicap for four-year-olds and upwards to complete doubles for Ger Lyons and Colin Keane after their earlier win with Lust
Topweight Longbourn made a bold bid from the front but the winner, who gave chase to the leader from early in the straight, wore him down in the final furlong to win by two and a quarter lengths. Coins Cross kept on without threatening to finish another length and a quarter back in third.
It was a second win for the Belardo gelding who built on an encouraging comeback run at Leopardstown.
“He's a nice horse to have around the place,” said Lyons.
“There is a big one in him and he could hit it or miss it depending on the luck on the day, he's that type of horse.
“He's rock solid and I think he'll get a mile-and-two. He's learning, he was very immature.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
