Deserved win for well-backed Count

The well-backed Count Of Carabass got up close home to land the Feale Handicap, scoring under Chris Hayes for Hilary McLoughlin (her first winner since May 2011).

Owned by the Gold & Blue Syndicate the bay gelding finished second at Limerick and Naas earlier this summer before disappointing on yielding ground on his last start again at Naas.

Available at 11/2 last night the son of Ad Valorem was backed from 5/1 this morning, going off the favourite at 7/2.

Having raced in mid-division he improved to take closer order over two furlongs out. He was ridden from over a furlong from home and kept on best, getting up close home to score by a neck. Fix It (9/2) who hit the front a furlong and a half from home had to settle for second under Ross Coakley for Johnny Murtagh while Dans Girl ran a cracker just a short head back in third, coming from well off the pace under Ian Queally for Pat Flynn.

Hilary McLoughlin said afterwards: "Hopefully Tipperary will win the All-Ireland now in a fortnight's time to complete the double!

"He is a home-bred, and he has been second three times this year, beaten by a short head and a head. He really deserved to win and he is probably unlucky that he hasn’t won before today, I’m delighted.

"Chris knows him well as he rode him a few times before."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes