Mr Everest (noseband) is ridden out by John Egan © Photo Healy Racing
First reserve Mr Everest completed an excellent weekend for Tony Martin and John Breslin, as he landed the Darragh Fitzpatrick & Colm White Local Bookmakers November Handicap.
Martin and Breslin were on the mark at Down Royal yesterday when Golden Spear took the Grade B Billecart-Salmon Handicap Hurdle.
Golden Spear was declared to run again today, but was ruled out coughing, leaving the door open for stable mate Mr Everest.
A good third in the Cesarewitch at Navan on his last start, Mr Everest was available at 14/1 in early shows, opening on-course at 10s, before going off a 7/1 co-favourite of three.
Prominent in the early stages under John Egan, the son of Cape Cross was eventually settled behind the leaders on the inner.
He was pushed along to challenge the front-running Pleasure Dome from the two furlong pole, and was ridden to the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well from there to score by a length and a half. Exchange Rate (15/2) finished second under Leigh Roche for Willie Mullins, while Wonder Laish (40s this morning and from 20s to 14s on-course) was third, with Niall McCullagh aboard this one for Charles Byrnes.
Pleasure Dome (8/1) completed the places in fourth, while the other co-favourites were Stratum and Uradel and they finished eleventh and fourteenth respectively.
Martin said afterwards: "He's a lovely horse and is improving all the time. He won in Listowel and ran well in Navan where he came from a fair bit back. He was a little unlucky then but all went well today.
"He's versatile and can go back over hurdles. He wouldn't want real heavy winter ground but I'd say we'll find a race for him at Leopardstown over Christmas as his owner (John Breslin) will be over then. He's still a maiden over hurdles.
"He's a big lean, weak horse, and is after taking a while to come to hand so we won’t be over hard on him. He’s after paying for his oats for a while!
"It's been a good weekend and things have gone right for a change. They weren't going right for long enough so it's grand. It brightens up the winter!"
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
