The prize presented to connections of Page One Two Nine by participants in the lord and lady of Kilbeggan festival© Photo Healy Racing
Outsider Page One Two Nine delivered a game performance when making every yard in the three miles one furlong handicap chase at Kilbeggan.
The nine-year-old with Mick Darcy in the plate put in a good display of jumping and hugged the home rail after the last to win by two and a half lengths from Bruff (8/1) and Niall Madden who couldn’t quite reel him in.
The 12/1 winner (who paid 25/1 on the Tote) had finished eighth of 16 at Limerick two weeks ago in a three mile handicap chase when racing in mid-division, but he responded better today when asked to do it from the front.
Trainer Michael Moran said: “We probably weren’t positive enough on him last day. He won a point-to-point and a hurdle and he always wanted to jump fences.
“They are great owners [Godfrey Moylan] and have been with me from the start. He might come back here for the Midlands National if he is still in one piece. He likes this place and he wants further than three miles.” Bold Present was third at 6/1 for Leonard Whitmore and Paul Townend while Karinga Queen 5/2 favourite for Gordon Elliott and Paul Carberry, disappointed in sixth.
Talab, Oscar Glory and Keoghs Bar were all non-runners due to the change in going from forecast good to firm to actual good to soft.
Michael Graham
