Simon Torrens steers Prince Of Air in © Photo Healy Racing
Philip Rothwell made it 12 winners for the season when Prince Of Air stayed on best in the second division of the Frank Gillane Memorial Handicap Hurdle at Tramore.
Simon Torrens got a tune out of the six-year-old gelding who delivered a more threatening challenge at the penultimate flight. He emerged with the lead and Torrens rode him to try and assert before the last.
The son of Prince Gibraltar landed more than two lengths clear of the pursuers, Mullins Cross (3/1jf) and Leroy Leroy and was kept going to win by two and a-quarter lengths from the former.Leroy Leroy (3/1jf) dropped half a length back to third.
Rothwell said: "We were hoping for a good run, but he had been pretty disappointing to be honest. He had a good run here last year when he was third. He was a bit disappointing in Kilbeggan and then had an okay run in Ballinrobe. Calling a spade a spade, I'd say today wasn't the strongest race in the world and we were lucky it divided.
"We might go over fences with him now, run him in a chase off his hurdle mark and see would he be any better. He won today, but made hard work of it.
"Gavin Kinch is with me for 20 years I'd say, nearly since I started. He has been a lucky owner and while this lad got an injury and was out of action for a while, it's great that we've been able to bring him back and win with him. Gavin has been super supportive for years and I'm delighted to have another winner for him. He is from Craanford near Gorey and his local GAA club won a final last night, so I'd say he will celebrate with them this evening.
"We had three handicap runners today and they finished first, second and third. The horses are running really well, and I'd love to turn a few more of the placed ones into winners, but they are going good."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
