Mount Ruapehu with winning connections© Photo Healy Racing
Put in 4/1 overnight, Mount Ruapehu did nothing but drift in the market all day and was sent off 16/1 for the concluding 6f handicap.
Running on the all-weather for the first time, the son of Invincible Spirit showed that the market indicators were wrong on this occasion. Never far from the pace, Cian Horgan's mount headed the pace-setting Livingston Range early in the final furlong and wasn't threatened from that point, coming home a length and a half in front of the running-on Irish Rumour
A juvenile winner at Cork for his breeder John Grogan, Mount Ruapehu was making a successful first appearance for trainer Andy Slattery and new owners the Whackey Racers Syndicate.
Assistant trainer Brian Slattery said: "On his form with John (Grogan) earlier on, he was entitled to do that. He's down a long way in the weights.
"It was nice to get a win and it is his first run in the lads' colours, they have leased him off John. They are from Thurles and Limerick.
"He did that well and settled very well. The race worked out perfectly, there were two horses in front of him and Cian was able to slot in behind them."
Quotes from Michael Graham
