Stay With It (left) leads as Davy Russell is almost unseated from Leave At Dawn© Photo Healy Racing
Leave At Dawn was all the rage for the Powerstown Handicap Hurdle following a facile success at Thurles last week but those who expected a handy follow-up theoretically 10lb ‘well-in’ under a 6lb mandatory penalty were in for a shock.
Plans went awry as soon as the first hurdle in this two-mile event at Clonmel as the 8/13 favourite was very awkward and Davy Russell lost his whip.
The former champion jockey ‘received’ a whip from Phillip Enright on outsider Backinyourbox (finished 12th) before the next flight but the favourite continued to make a number of mistakes.
Russell and Enright were both subsequently hit with five-day suspensions (Dec 20, 21, 26, 27 & 28) by the stewards under Rule 272 relating to bringing racing into disrepute.
Russell did well not to be unseated when his mount was hampered at the penultimate flight, where Stay With It cruised to the front despite hitting this hurdle.
Patrick Corbett’s mount soon asserted and the 10/1 chance stretched away to score by five lengths, with Shabra Bertolini staying on late to deny Chakisto the runner-up spot.
Topweight Dave’s Stamper completed the placings in fourth, while Leave At Dawn eventually finished eighth.
Winning trainer Mick Winters said, "When I was brushing him over before he ran the last day, I thought he was fierce quiet in himself but ran fierce well so today I didn't bother brushing him.
"He's a small horse and his dam is a full sister to Earthmover. If the horse is sound and loose he'll go to Cork on Sunday.
"It's my first winner for his owner Thomas McNulty, from Ballinrobe. I met him when Missunited won her first race at Ballinrobe and he said he wanted a horse like her!
"He's a very genuine man and spends half his year in Carolina with his kids and grandkids so this is mighty for him!"
(TW & AM)
