Clonbury Bridge strikes for the Dempseys

Clonbury Bridge took division two of the Foynes Handicap Hurdle for the father and son team of Philip and Luke Dempsey but only after a thrilling finish at Limerick. Rathnaleen Tou set the pace in a bid to follow up a win here last month, and the 9/4 favourite was joined at the second last by Clonbury Bridge.

The pair settled down to fight out a protracted battle from this point, with 3/1 shot Clonbury Bridge just getting the better of the argument close home by half a length. Kinnegad Lad was four and a half lengths adrift in third with Muyam Spirit in fourth.

Philip Dempsey said, "He had to battle and it was touch and go for a while but he kept at it. He got underneath the last a bit but was probably always doing enough.

"He had a few nice runs, has been consistent enough without winning and the bit of nicer ground helped. He was a bit disappointing running on the inside track here the last day but didn't finish out and maybe didn't stay.

"It mightn't have been that strong a race and the runner-up had never won off 90 but he won anyway."

(TW & AM)