Pacelli Road and Paul Carberry in action at Kilbeggan© Photo Healy Racing
Top-weight Pacelli Road was much too good for his opponents in the two mile handicap hurdle at Kilbeggan.
He belied his odds of 14/1 by making rapid headway from rear to lead on the run to the second last. Paul Carberry didn't have to get serious with him as he cleared the last and put five lengths on 3/1 favourite Glendaars Best Whatever It Takes (8/1 from 10s) was lengths back in third.
"He went terrible at Galway for some reason. Shane thought he was in good form beforehand but he ran no race. Maybe the ground went a bit tacky," said Frank Berry, racing manager for JP McManus.
"Paul said they went mad up front and came back to him. He loves passing horses.
"I'm delighted to get a winner for Shane as he does a great job."
This was a third winner on Kilbeggan's card for JP McManus this evening. The other two were Carriganog and Portmore Lough
When Pacelli Road was last seen he came in 12th of 15 in a handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival.
Pacelli Road's other win came on the flat for Dermot Weld in a mile and a half handicap at Leopardstown in July 2014.
The Stewards requested a report from J.P.Broderick, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Pacelli Road, placed first, as compared with his previous run at Galway 2nd August. Frank Berry, authorised representative, reported that J.P. Broderick acquired this animal prior to his previous run at Galway and was racing for the second time today under his care. He stated that the animal disappointed at Galway in a fast run race on soft underfoot conditions but today the good to firm ground and a level track helped him to overcome a slight wind problem for which he wears a tongue strap and ultimately contributed to his winning run. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
