Poker Party and Dylan Robinson (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
Poker Party proved very game of the Clonmel Oil Race Day Handicap Hurdle to give Dylan Robinson a welcome winner.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding disputed for most of the two-mile three-furlong trip and stuck on well when pressed in the closing stages.
The well-backed 13/2 shot (20/1 this morning) led going to the second last but was strongly pressed by Pat's Oscar after a mistake at the final flight.
He found more on the run-in to gain a three-parts-of-a-length win.
Robinson was having just his second mount since returning from a fractured wrist suffered at Tipperary in July and he said:-
“I broke and dislocated my wrist four and a half months ago and that's my second ride back.
"I fractured the wrist in a couple of places and it took a while to come back properly. Hopefully things will kick off from here."
De Bromhead added:- "He has always jumped brilliantly at home loose schooling but when we ran him, his jumping was just appalling. I think you cannot move a muscle on him so we stuck Dylan up on him and told him to tie his hands to the mane and he was brilliant on him.
"He's a good horse but just couldn't jump and his jumping went to pot. He jumped pretty well today, still made a couple of mistakes but he'll be a nice horse when he gets his confidence.
"It's great to see Dylan back - he's a great little rider, is a good part of our team and is with me full-time and works hard with us.
"I'm also delighted for his owner Brian Acheson, who is a local man to Clonmel, as it's his first winner with us."
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
