Independent Expert (purple) © Photo Healy Racing
The one mile handicap for four-year-olds and upwards was marred by a fatal injury sustained by David Marnane's stable stalwart Freescape who slipped up after clipping heels on the approach to the straight. Fortunately young rider Darragh O'Sullivan was unscathed in the incident.
Victory went to 12/1 chance Independent Expert who bounced back to form after a poor run when last seen in early June.
Having tracked the leaders, the Gutaifan mare gave chase to Physique in the final furlong and wore down that rival close home to score by half a length.
Andrew Slattery was on board Mick Walsh's five-year-old for his father Andy who remarked: "I ran five horses in Gowran the last day she ran and they all ran worse than the other but the ground was terrible and sticky. She likes soft ground but couldn't go on it that day and now three of those horses have won since, so it was just one of those things.
"I gave her a break, she is fit and well now and tomorrow morning I'll enter her in a Galway festival handicap on the Tuesday. If she gets in, we'll take our chance and if you're not in, you can't win."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
