Red Castle (inside) and Icelip jump the last together© Photo Healy Racing
After scoring with Collen Beag yesterday David O'Brien recorded his second winner in the space of twenty-four hours as his Icelip took the Graun Hill Suite - Perfect For Parties Handicap Hurdle.
Without a win in fifteen starts before today the seven-year-old son of Urban Ocean was sent off a 6/1 chance (from 7's on-course) after running well to finish fourth behind Damut on his last start at Clonmel.
Settled towards the rear of mid-division early on he improved into ninth halfway. He made further progress into third before the second last and he was ridden after that flight.
He jumped the last in a dispute of the lead before getting on top close home, going on to score by three parts of a length from Red Castle (10/1) in second under David Casey for Arthur Moore. Miss Faithful (14/1) finished twelve lengths back in third under Brian Hayes for Peter McCreery while Beautiful Ben (11/2) was a neck away in fourth under Denis Hogan.
O'Brien said afterwards: "I'm delighted for John (Grant) who kept him when things weren't working out for him last year. This is John's local track and he heads up the syndicate (Fastey For Fun Syndicate).
"We had his palate fired and it seems to have made an awful difference. He is after improving and he is finishing out his races.
"He will stick to handicapping."
