Harley Dunne cut a forlorn figure standing by the hedge after the final fence and who could blame him. The local rider had just seen success slip from his grasp when his mount, Loch Dara came to grief at Wexford, handing victory in the Rosslare Hunters Chase to Boxer Georg under Patrick Mullins.

Mullins was sporting the silks of Mrs Cathy O'Farrell on this veteran and there certainly won't be anyone begrudging victory to the Thomastown family after recent bad luck on the track.

Strain Of Fame was going to win under Cathy's daughter, Katie, when crashing out at the final flight at Thurles on October 23rd.

Only last Sunday Miss O'Farrell was again in the plate when Snapchat suffered a sickening fall, also at the last, with a race won at Cork. Luckily O'Farrell escaped injury in that spill but the Shantou gelding lost his life.

After Boxer Georg had come home six lengths to the good from Illusion Of Time Mrs O'Farrell explained: "We were kindly given this horse by the Mullins' and he is going to be a fun horse for Katie.

"She didn't ride today because of her heavy fall in Cork on Sunday. She'll definitely be back aboard the next day though.

"They'd love to get to the hunter chase in Cheltenham. They could go in a few banks races too."

(DM & EM)