Duke battles to land big pot for Gilligan

Glamorgan Duke battled back gamely to land a big pot for Athenry handler Paul Gilligan in the €150,000 Gaelic Plant Hire Handicap Chase at Leopardstown.

The Flemensfirth gelding, who had been prominent throughout, looked booked for second in the two-mile-five contest when collared by Trainwreck on the run-in.

Conor Maxwell got a great tune from the 33/1 shot in the closing stages, however, and he stuck his head back in front near the post to gained a head victory.

“It's great to get a first Leopardstown winner. He's a good horse,” said Gilligan.

“He's 17-3 and I had the chance of selling him a few times. I possibly should have sold him but I said he's too good to sell and he'd win a win a big pot some day.

“My wife Natalie owns him and it's all down to our young lads at home, they're fantastic.

“It's a small yard battling to stay going and I'm lucky that our young lads ride out in the morning before they go to school and during the summer.

“He's going to be a better horse next year I'd say as he's still not fully filled out. We'll enjoy today and look forward.

“I hoping he'll make into an Irish National horse. He'll probably go to Cheltenham for one of the amateur races.

“I have him entered in the National Hunt Chase, I don't know whether we'll go or not.

“It's just unfortunate one of my own lads wasn't riding him today but that said Conor gave him a fantastic ride.

“Liam can't do the weight and has gone back amateur. Our second lad Jack can't ride over fences yet, until he's 17. Conor gave him a super ride.

“Liam could ride him in Cheltenham but I think he needs a winner over fences. He's only had four winners over fences. We'll have to try and find a winner somewhere for him over fences.”