Gamble goes astray as Minella has his day

After finishing second on his first three starts, the Noel Meade trained Minella Fair got a deserved win to his name, as he took the bumper at Limerick, the Irish Field Flat Race.

Second in a point-to-point at Mainstown for John Nallen, the well-bred son of Flemensfirth was then sold to current connections for 72,000 pounds.

He again filled the runner-up spot on his first two racecourse starts at Navan, and he was sent off the 3/1 second favourite to go one place better today.

Settled in second by Danny Benson, the Patricia Hunt owned victor hit the front over two furlongs out, and he soon stretched clear, going on to score easily by ten lengths. Isodon came through to take second under Luke McGuinness for Gordon Elliott at 12/1, while Now McGinty (20's to 12's) was another two lengths back in third for the father and son team of John and Ronnie O'Neill.

Early favourite Castlegrace Paddy finished a disappointing fourth after attempting to make all. Nick Lost was the gamble of the race, but he too disappointed. The Henry De Bromhead trained gelding opened on-course at 6/1, before being backed all the way into 7/4 favouritism.

The David Roche ridden market leader did lose ground at the start, but never looked like winning, and finished a well-beaten seventh.

Danny Benson said afterwards: "He's a nice horse and is getting better with racing. He probably bumped into one the last day and will make a lovely staying chaser in time.

"He'd probably be good enough for a winners' bumper but obviously the boss will decide where he goes next and that's my second winner for Noel (Meade)."

The winner is a full-brother to eight time winner Time For Rupert who was fifth in the Gold Cup behind Synchronised in 2012.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes