Park Ranger appreciated the testing conditions, ground officially changed to heavy before this race, when swooping late under Fran Berry to take the featured €40,000 Guinness Handicap.
The five-year-old High Chaparral gelding looked in a bit of trouble when meeting some trouble in running entering the straight but he powered home to such effect in the closing stages that he'd two and a quarter lengths to spare over Star Links at the line.
Star Links, like the winner a 7/1 chance, appeared the one to beat when setting sail for home early in the straight and was only headed inside the final 100 yards of the nine furlong race. Hisaabaat was up with the pace throughout but the 4/1 favourite could only keep on at one pace another length and three quarters adrift in third.
Winning trainer Christy Roche was not present but Berry, who put up 1lb overweight, said, “He loved the ground and has plenty of ability but is a bit quirky. They went a good gallop and thankfully they came back to me eventually. It's great to win a nice pot.”
Alan Magee
