Floramar comes out best in a thriller

Ricky Doyle and Conor O’Dwyer teamed up to take the OCR Waste Management Handicap Hurdle with Floramar but only after a tremendous three-way photo finish at Roscommon. Zipporah made a bold bid from the front in this three-mile event building up a clear lead from before halfway, and was only reeled in at the final flight.

Floramar was one of a bunch of horses to challenge at the last, and the 8/1 shot just stayed on best in the closing stages to prevail by a neck. Lizzies Champ took the runner-up spot with 5/1 favourite About You a head further away in third.

Zipporah weakened on the run-in to eventually finish sixth in a race where the field was greatly reduced to 13 with eight non-runners (four due to change in going).

O"Dwyer said, "I always said Ruby gave him an unbelievable ride to win in Downpatrick and he ran a cracker back there the last day over 2m5f when things happened a bit quick for him but he flew home.

"I fancied him a little bit and with the three miles today I thought he'd a great shout. He is still learning his trade and is a fine horse who will jump a fence. I'll stay hurdling with him for a while as he's not mature enough to go chasing but he has schooled over fences and he jumps them well."

Winning owner Alan Dunlop enjoyed his finest hour when Organisedconfusion landed the Irish Grand National in 2011.

(TW & AM)