Nelson Road (nearest) just gets the better of Boom Or Bush© Photo Healy Racing
Nelson Road just held off Boom Or Bush in the last at Down Royal, the West Coast Cooler Fashion Week Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap.
Second to stablemate Emperor Waltz at Killarney on his last start, the John Murphy trained four-year-old stepped up in trip to two miles two for the first time this evening.
Having opened on-course at 6s, the Thomas Keithley owned bay drifted out to a starting price of 8/1.
Sent straight to the front by Shane Foley, the bay victor was headed after a couple of furlongs and raced in second.
He regained the lead three furlongs out and soon became involved in good scrap with Boom Or Bush.
Nelson Road gained the upper hand inside the final furlong, but he tired close home, and just held off the renewed effort of the aforementioned Harry Rogers trained gelding.
Just a nose separated them at the line, with the runner-up also returned at 8/1 under Chris Hayes.
The 4/1 favourite Neverushacon was another length and three parts back in third under Colm O'Donoghue for Jessica Harrington.
Whatforuwontgobyu was the big gamble of the race and he finished fourth under Oisin Orr. The Tony Martin trained gelding was available at 20s last night, opening on-course at 12s, before going off a 9/2 chance.
John Murphy Junior said afterwards: "He's a very, very tough horse as you can see. He's a big, tall boy. He has improved and improved, he had a very good run the last day. We thought he would go very close today. He'll come on again from that.
"He found more at the end, he's very tough. Down the line I'd say he could be a very decent hurdler for someone. He'd stay going all day and he's very genuine which is important on that ground.
"I'd say he'll need a couple of weeks break before the next day and we'll look at what is coming up for him but he has plenty of options now because he will go up a little bit in the handicap.
"Thank God that makes the trip home a bit shorter - it's five hours!"
STEWARDS REPORT
R.P. Cleary, rider of Magna Cartor (GB) trained by John Joseph Hanlon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stumbled badly coming out of the starting stalls.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
