Sir Harry Cash (left) jumps into contention at the second last© Photo Healy Racing
After winning the second aboard Kitten Rock Ruby Walsh doubled up in the sixth, the Thoroughbred County Novice Handicap Chase, as he partnered the Eric McNamara trained Sir Harry Cash to victory.
Walsh won a handicap hurdle at Limerick last month aboard the son of Sir Harry Lewis before the duo finished a disappointing seventh at Galway.
Making his handicap debut over fences today he was sent off at 5/1 having opened at 4’s on-course.
Carrying top-weight of eleven stone ten the Michael Hannon and James McNamara owned gelding was settled towards rear.
He made progress on the outer before four out and was sixth turning into the straight as the field bunched up.
He travelled strongly and hit the front after the second last and while he was pressed by Top Cat Henry on the run-in he kept on well under pressure to score by a length and a quarter.
Top Cat Henry had to settle for second at 8/1 under Brian O’Connell for Kieran Purcell while Black Zero was nine and a half lengths back in third under Mikey Fogarty for Michael McDonagh at 6/1. Its The Ice I Like was the gamble of the race (2/1 favourite from 9/2 on-course) but he could only manage a disappointing fifth under David Casey for Robert Tyner.
Eric McNamara said afterwards: “It's a help to have that man on board and he jumped brilliantly for him.
“He was a few pounds lower over fences than hurdles which was a help and he jumps particularly well which is also a plus.
“They went a good gallop and he took his time. We'll find something similar for him.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
