Clara justifies support on handicap debut

Clara Bel La previously placed in a bumper, maiden hurdle and on the Flat, landed a bit of a touch when encountering handicap company for the first time over a mile and a half at Tipperary.

This looked a wide open event beforehand with punters unable to split three market leaders at 9/2, and there was a line of runners stretched right across the track as they entered the straight.

However Pat Smullen, recording the middle leg of what was to prove a treble on the card, got a good tune out of the seven year-old mare.

The John Kiely-trained 9/1 chance, available at 14/1 in the morning and backed down from 11/1 on track, got well on top inside the final furlong and was driven out to beat Concrete And Clay (7/1) by three lengths. The Four Elms (5/1) held every chance but could find no extra to finish another three and three quarter lengths back in third.

Kiely said, “We always liked her. She’s always promised a lot but she can be anxious, and getting her relaxed is the key to help her get home.

"Pat gave her a grand ride and hopefully we’ll get another with her. She’s a half-sister to Get Me Out Of Here.”

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes