Bear mauls handicap rivals under well judged Slattery ride

Father and son team, Andrew Slattery Snr and Jnr were in the winners' enclosure after 16/1 chance Killeaney Bear kept on strongly in the straight to take the @tipperaryraces handicap.

Well away from his inside draw, the Kodi Bear gelding led in the initial stages. However, with Gentileschi soon moving up to take over and stretch more than a dozen lengths clear, Slattery sat second at the head of the chasing pack.

With the latter coming back to the field early in the straight, Killeaney Bear regained the lead on the inside rail.

Both Sportingsilvermine and Glimmerglass looked serious threats over a furlong out but inside the last neither could land a blow on the eventual winner who kept on to score by half-a-length.

Andrew Slattery (jockey) said: “He disappointed us a few days when we expected him to run well. He never travelled the last day in Gowran.

“He’s a big gross horse who seems to be improving and coming to himself a little bit. Hopefully we can have a bit of fun with him.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee.