Balkinstown hangs on to land gamble

Balkinstown was all out to land a gamble in the concluding two mile Main Guard Handicap at Clonmel this evening.

Fran Flood's gelding was backed from 10/1 this morning into 7/2 favourite and was produced by Fran Berry to challenge at the two pole.

He soon had a narrow lead but was strongly pressed by Circe's Island inside the final furlong.

That rival looked like he might get on top in the closing stages but Balkinstown stuck his head out to gain a short-head victory.

The Westerner gelding, who has been campaigned over hurdles recently, was making his first Flat start since November 2013 and was actually having his first run in a handicap on the level.

"The bit of nicer ground compared to the winter ground helped and he'll go for something similar next," said Fran Flood junior.

"He'll mix it between flat and hurdles for the summer."

It was a double on the card for Berry following the earlier victory of Highly Toxic

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)