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Mark Nunan
First racecourse double for Rebel county trainer Paul O'Flynn
Different Spot and Darragh O'Keeffe jump the last
© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Paul O’Flynn, based in Ballyclough near Mallow, completed a 66/1 double when Different Spot (7/2 fav) took the Towers Hotel Handicap Chase.
The Stowaway 7-year-old hit the front under Darragh O’Keeffe four out and was clear up the home straight before crossing the line seven and a half lengths ahead of Highest Benefit (18/1), with Capture the Drama (25/1) another head away in third.
A point-to-point winner in 2018, Different Spot joined present connections this year and, after a couple of fair runs in maiden hurdles, was an encouraging third in his first handicap chase at Listowel last month.
The winning handler was a substitute on the Cork team that won their seventh, and most recent, All Ireland Football title in 2010 when they defeated Down in the final.
Winning trainer Paul O’Flynn said: "The horse came from Enda Bolger's and had bits of problems but we sorted them out and he is a lovely horse. He never had leg trouble but had niggles which were at him a bit and he is a brilliant horse to get.
"Darragh (O'Keeffe) did a lot of work with him and has nursed him along and he is a good horse. We've no race in mind next but will have a look tonight.
"That's my first racecourse double but I've had doubles in point-to-points in the past."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes