Mark Nunan
Cromwell and O'Keeffe double up with gambled-on British import
Bring The Bacon and Darragh O'Keeffe
© Photo Healy Racing
British import Bring The Bacon (11/8 fav, from 6/1 overnight) totally outclassed his rivals and landed a gamble in the HOLLYWOODBETS Handicap Hurdle.
The Sulamani gelding travelled well tracking the leaders under Darragh O’Keeffe before hitting the front before the second last flight of hurdles.
From there he effortlessly went clear and was eased down to beat Game Catch (12/1) by five lengths.
The 6-year-old had a few creditable runs in defeat, over hurdles and fences, in Britain and was last seen finishing third in a chase at Market Rasen in April.
It was a double for O’Keeffe and winning trainer Gavin Cromwell after the odds-on success of Brides Hill earlier.
Feidhlim Cunningham, representing the latter, said: "That was his first start for us since coming from Tom Gretton's and he is actually a half-brother to (dual Grade 1-placed) Gentlemansgame.
“We bought him privately and he came over here with a low rating. Since we got him, we thought he was a bit better than the rating.
“He done it well today and Darragh said he has plenty of scope. He is handicapped over fences as well, so he will mix it between the two.
"He is in here again tomorrow (over 2m5f) and he might run again."
Quotes from Donal Murphy