Harrington claims bumper with Town

New To This Town stayed on nicely in the closing stages to make a winning debut for Jessica Harrington in the concluding bumper at Thurles this afternoon.

50/1 shot Louie The Second looked set to cause a shock when kicking for home turning in but faded inside the final furlong and was collared.

Kate Harrington produced New To This Town to land the spoils and the Milan gelding was chased home by Articulum as Louie The Second finished third.

The Willie Mullins-trained Merry Night was sent off the well backed 8/11 favourite but never challenged back in fifth.

"He is a beautiful horse, he really is, but I thought he'd be much too green,” said Harrington.

"He never got to run in a schooling race and while this isn't an easy place to start, I felt it might be too buzzy for him at Leopardstown. He was looking around at everything today.

"I'll let the dust settle and he'll run in a winners' bumper next. He's well schooled and also jumps super."

(Quotes by Thomas Weekes)