Crack On Corrie surges to the front

Trainer Willie Austin and jockey Chris Meehan teamed up for the first time and made it a winning association through Crack On Corrie in the extended two and a quarter mile handicap hurdle at Galway. Grandma Dotty looked for all money to be the winner as made good headway on the home bend to lead at the last.

She held all the aces coming to the final 150 yards but Meehan got a tune out of Crack On Corrie who hunted her down and won going away in the closing stages by two and a half lengths.

The seven-year-old daughter of Oscar came home at 12/1 from Grandma Dotty at 10s. Padraic O Conaire (10/1) and 11/2 favourite Oskar High completed the placings in third and fourth respectively.

Willie Austin said: "It was nearly time for her to win and has been a bit frustrating but she was wrong the last day in Listowel.

"She'll get another one of those low-grade handicaps and she's still well-in. Chris (Meehan) had never ridden for me before."

Chris Meehan said: "I would have liked to have been a bit handier early on. I thought they went a ferocious gallop early, I didn't think they would have kept it up for too long. I was forced just to take my time on her.

"She jumped superbly. I had a lovely run up the rail turning in. I was forced to just sit on her again. I pulled her out wide, a bit of better ground and she went on and won nicely.

"I'm with Gordon (Elliott). That's six winners in Ireland now. Gordon has been very good to me and long may it continue."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes