Second in this race twelve months ago, Bridge Native went a place better this afternoon, as she claimed the feature at Galway, the Guinness Handicap Chase.

Performing well without getting her head in front of late, the likeable ten-year-old was sent off a 5/1 chance under Jordan Gainford.

Recording a seventh career success, the daughter of Stowaway was settled in second and was left in a share of the lead at the second last, as the front-running Bold Emperor (3/1f) crashed out.

The Ciaran Murphy trained victor soon gained a narrow lead and she was pushed along to extend her advantage from over a furlong out, going on to win comfortably by eight-and-a-half lengths. Espion Du Chenet (9/2) finished second under Ryan Treacy for Louise Lyons, while Winter Escape (5/1) was another fifteen lengths back in third.

Murphy, who trains the winner for the Real Bandits Again Syndicate, said: "That is fantastic. We were worried about the ground and the weight but in parts, the horses weren't going into it much and the race panned out perfectly for her.

"She jumped so well and Jordan's five pound claim is a big help as he is a fantastic rider. He kept everything simple.

"She is a brilliant servant to have in the yard and we'll have to look at something bigger now as we're in bonus territory. She will be covered next spring and hasn't got black-type yet so we will probably look for that - we have nothing to lose now by throwing her into something bigger."

STEWARDS REPORT

D.J. McInerney, rider of The Big Galloper trained by C.Byrnes, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped poorly throughout.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes