National next for consistent Brook Heavenly Brook certainly wasn't winning out of turn when taking the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase at Clonmel under a dashing ride by Luke Dempsey. The Keith Watson-trained gelding was bridging a gap of nearly three years since winning a beginners chase at Fairyhouse, and filled the runner-up spot an incredible seven times this season. Two fine leaps in the straight settled the issue as the 7/1 chance beat He Rock's by two and a half lengths, with De Benno 12 lengths away in third. The 2/1 favourite Coolaghknock Glebe fell four out. Watson's son Marshall said, "That was overdue and no horse in Irish racing deserved it more! "He'll run in the Ulster National next and stays very well." Dempsey said, "He got into a great rhythm and jumped from fence to fence. He gave me a great spin. He's happy bowling along in front and was winging fences. It's been a great few weeks for me." (TW & AM)
