Rochestown rallies to register a fourth win at Tramore Course specialist Rochestown registered a fourth win at Tramore, as he just prevailed in the Quinnbet.com Handicap Chase. The winner of this race 12-months ago and again successful at the Co Waterford venue on New Year's Day (for the second time in succession), the Brendan Walsh-trained 10-year-old disappointed when last seen at Fairyhouse in February. Sent off a 13/2 chance this afternoon, the David O’Meara owned bay tracked the leaders under Phillip Enright. Hampered by the fall of Lillian Bland two out, he recovered quickly and despite a mistake at the final fence, he rallied gamely on the run-in, getting up close home to beat General Clermont by a neck. The runner-up was returned at 5/1 under Gavin Brouder, while the patiently ridden On Lovers Walk (4/1) was another length and a half away in third. The aforementioned Lillian Bland was returned the 5/2 favourite and she was still in with every chance when coming to grief at the penultimate obstacle. "He loves it here and we are running out of races for him now, he'll be going up in the handicap," Walsh remarked. "There was a little cloud over our horses the last day he ran, he just wasn't right. We knew he was in good form today and we'll find something for him now in May if the rain comes, if not we'll leave him off. He can revert back to hurdles too. "That's Phillip's first winner for me. He rode plenty of winners for us over the years, but it's his first since I took the licence. "They've done a good job watering today, that's as good as he would want it. He dug deep today, he is tough."
