School Lane (near side) and Follow The Crowd in the air together at the last© Photo Healy Racing
School Lane made it five wins in the space of just over six months when getting up close home to deny Follow The Crowd in an exciting finish to the First Past The Post Handicap Chase at Downpatrck.
Thomas Reilly took over in the saddle as regular partner Sam Ewing is currently sidelined through injury and Reilly took full advantage to record his third winner in recent weeks.
The Liam Lennon-trained gelding was never too far from pace and led at the penultimate fence but looked booked for second spot when Follow The Crowd struck the front at the last.
However Reilly and his willing partner never gave up and they got back up in the closing strides to score at odds of 7/2.
Follow The Crowd went down by a neck, and the pair stretched 13 lengths clear of Grangeclare Native in third.
Reilly said, "He was very good now. Liam said not to get to the front too soon on him. His jumping was brilliant and all he was doing was staying on up the hill.
"I thought I was cooked jumping the last but he was really, really willing. He is gutsy out so he is.
"I just said to Liam I can die happy after riding a winner for him!
"I work with John McConnell and he has been very good to me the last number of years. I'm there every morning and Liam would ring me and ask me to meet him in Skyrne and I've no problem going to come up here."
(MG & AM)
