If Not For You (right) and Wither Hills jump the last© Photo Healy Racing
Incident-packed was certainly an apt description of the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Only 85 Euro Beginners Chase as If Not For You escaped the grief to score under Mark Walsh.
The drama started at the very first fence as Benrouge and Push The Button both fell and Are You Listening was brought down. Merrion Row was another to go while disputing the lead at halfway, bringing down Illtakeitfromhere
Just eight of the 15 runners completed as really only three were concerned at the business end in the straight. Wither Hills made most of the running and jumped well but could find no extra on the run-in when challenged by If Not For You.
Eddie Harty’s 8/1 chance got on top close home to score by a length, with 2/1 favourite Rafi De Triana another five and a half lengths away in third.
Andrew McNamara and Davy Russell were both reportedly ‘sore’ following falls in this race.
Harty said, "it wasn't the strongest of races but it was nice to get it.
"He's a nice honest, good looking horse who always does his best. He always looks like he wants it when he is in a battle and, if all your string was like that, you'd be in business!
"I don't know where we go from here."
(TW & AM)
