Duke just beats Star in Cork feature

Gentleman Duke just prevailed in what was a thrilling finish to the feature at Cork this afternoon, the Grade B Cork Racecourse Kinsale Handicap Chase, scoring under David Casey for Arthur Moore and owner JP McManus.

The six-year-old son of Bachelor Duke bounced back to form when winning a handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe on his last start and he was sent off the well-backed 7/2 joint-favourite this afternoon having opened at 9/2 on-course (was available at 10/1 in a place last night).

After tracking the leaders throughout he improved into second before the fourth last.

He jumped the second last disputing the lead with Beckwith Star but he was soon headed by that one before he rallied gamely on the run-in, getting up on the line to win by a short head.

Beckwith Star, who was the other 7/2 joint-favourite, had to settle for second under Jonathan Burke for Henry De Bromhead while False Economy was six and a half lengths back in third under Ger Fox for Michael Hourigan at 12/1.

Arthur Moore said afterwards: "That’s a lovely pot to win. He ran a blinder at Fairyhouse last November (in a Grade B Handicap Chase) but I don’t think he has really had his conditions again until recently.

"He has won a hurdle and a chase and we will try and go for the treble now on the flat in the Leopardstown November Handicap next weekend. He should get into it."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee