Drop back in trip suits Effernock Lad

Effernock Lad saw off Rolling Rocket to land his first win over fences in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase over two miles in Naas.

He raced in fourth for Mark Flanagan before improving to third on the run to five out.

The seven-year-old gelding had Boher Call and The Shepherd King well within striking distance at the third last.

Flanagan sent his mount into the lead on the turn for home and the pair held a narrow lead jumping the second last from Rolling Rocket.

Effernock Lad was soon ridden and had Rolling Rocket on terms at the final fence. He stayed on best though to take the spoils by half a length.

He was 12/1 in the morning and opened at 6/1 before further support saw his price contract to 9/2.

Rolling Rocket took second at 16/1 with I Knew Well (8/1) in third, beaten three and three quarter lengths by the winner.

Handler Gerard Keane said: “Bringing him back to two miles did the trick obviously.

“We thought he wanted two-and-a-half and he did win over 2m5f at Downpatrick but it was a slowly run race.

“Two miles is the key to him. He looks like a slow horse at home but he lights up when he comes racing.

“He’s a grand old horse. He’s won three times over hurdles and that’s his first chase.

“We’ve had him since he was a four-year-old. We were hoping to sell him but he didn’t win a point-to-point and he was left with us. He’s done a job anyway.

“There are probably more opportunities for him in England and we’re thinking about a race in Musselburgh in a couple of weeks for him.

“We’ve had it in mind for him and said if he ran well here he would go. It depends on what the handicapper does now.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson