Blackmore doubles up on Gondor

Colm Murphy's Gondor stayed on stoutly in the Lee Strand Handicap Chase at Killarney to bring up a double for Rachael Blackmore at the Co Kerry track.

The 4/1 shot made stealthy headway in fourth at the third-last fence and further improved to third at the next.

The leader Norwigi was hard at work before the last and Gondor closed on his inner. Neither horse was fully fluent there and Rudy Catrail was still in with a chance on the outer.

Gondor was ridden to claim Norwigi in the closing stages and went on by two and a half lengths from Rudy Catrail (14/1) who got his second wind. Norwigi also went off at 14/1 and weakened in third.

Blackmore said: “This lad has been knocking on the door so his turn was going to come at some stage.

“They went quite hard up front but have been coming back around here over the last few days so I was hoping they would.

“We met the last plenty long but he got his legs up and over.”

Blackmore also won the Lee Strand Handicap Hurdle on Lady Rita

Additional reporting by Alan Magee