Highland Fling scores for Cromwell/Cleary

Highland Fling added to his two hurdle wins earlier this year by taking the Behans Horseshoe Bar & Restaurant Handicap in impressive style at Listowel.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding led approaching the straight under Rory Cleary and soon put the 1m6f race to bed under two furlongs out.

The five-year-old, supported from 13/2 this morning and sent off a 9/2 shot, had the race in safe keeping a furlong out and eventually scored by a comfortable two and a half lengths. Oiche Mhaith Boy kept on into the runner-up berth, with Nelson Road a further two and a half lengths away in third.

The 7/2 favourite Bayan dropped away tamely half a mile out and finished completely tailed off in rear.

Cleary said, “He jumped and travelled away well, and took me into the race easily. He handled that ground very well.

“He’d a great run at Galway and it was similar enough conditions today.”