Peccatorum (nearest the camera) jumps the last alongside Whiskey Hall© Photo Healy Racing
Peccatorum under Andrew McNamara for his father Andrew McNamara Senior foiled the big gamble on Whiskey Hall by winning the Ballynoe Stables Handicap Hurdle at the odds of 33/1 (second time of the afternoon after Ample Appeal won the first also at 33/1).
Whiskey Hall who was having his first start for Charles Byrnes having previously been under the care of Eric McNamara opened on track at 11/2 but was strongly punted and was sent off the 9/4 favourite under Philip Enright. Grey Area under double seeking Andrew Ring attempt to make all but was headed as they approached the second last by the favourite. The winner then closed on Whiskey Hall at the second last and passed him at the last before running on strongly to win by six and a half lengths.
Grey Area plugged on to take third another three parts of a length back at 14/1 while last year’s winner Our Eric completed the placings a further two lengths back at 25/1 under Barry Cash.
Winning trainer Andrew McNamara Senior said afterwards: "I put that win down to jockeyship.
"Andrew said when he came in that he thought he had gone to fast with a circuit to go, although he was last. So if he felt that he had got too fast what had the rest of them done!
"He will have a summer campaign now and I’d say he will be better on better ground but I may be wrong!"
