Wilderness (green) is ridden out by Ben Coen to beat Sweet Affection © Photo Healy Racing
Wilderness gamely fought off all challengers to complete a hat-trick in the first divide of the Leopardstown Handicap.
Successful at Gowran and Roscommon last month, the Johnny Murtagh trained five-year-old was sent off the 11/4 favourite this afternoon.
Sent straight to the front by Ben Coen, the daughter of Cityscape made all. She was ridden and pressed by Ultra Pride over a furlong from home but soon had the measure of that rival. Sweet Affection (20/1) then came with a late rattle in the final 50 yards, but Wilderness done just enough to prevail by a head.
Andrew Slattery was aboard the runner-up for Dermot Weld, while Share The Honour (9/2) and the aforementioned Ultra Pride (7/2) were third and fourth respectively.
Coen said afterwards: "She was in good form coming into today and I thought the step up in trip would probably suit her. She loves bowling away in front and she quickened up well turning into the straight and toughed it out well the last half furlong.
"Hopefully she can keep progressing. She's in again (at Killarney) on Monday. I'm not sure if she's going to run and we'll see how she comes out of this race."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Stewards informed Terence O'Brien, trainer that Kingdom Brunel (GB), would have to be recertified before being declared to run from stalls again.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
