Icelip strikes again at Tramore

Icelip made it four wins at Tramore when staying on well to claim the two-mile handicap chase on the card tonight.

David O'Brien 's charge had been successful three times over hurdles at the venue in the past and was opening his account over fences tonight.

The ten-year-old was held up in rear by Sean Flanagan and was driven along in fifth before the penultimate fence.

He picked up to lead at the last, however, and ran on strongly in the closing stages to post a four-and-a-quarter length success.

The winner was one of three 4/1 co-favourites in the race and they filled the places with Seskin Flyer runner-up and Dark Outsider third.

O'Brien said:- "I wish there was more racing down here for him! He ran well at Wexford (finished third), he was a bit novicey. The ground and everything suited him today so it's happy days.

"John Grant is one of his owners, he is ninety-one and he was here last night. Unfortunately he was a little bit sick today so he stayed at home. That'll give him a good lift.

"It depends on what the handicapper does now. He could go back hurdling as well. He is ground dependent and is fairly track dependent now too! We'll try and get him to win one somewhere else. If not we'll come back here in August.

"He was awkward early on his career, but in fairness to John Cullen he done a great job riding him before he retired. If you ride him up with the pace he just pulls too hard. You'd be saying to yourself how is he going to make up that ground, but he just seems to around here.

"Sean knows him so well now, and he just let him pop away early on. He is a ten-year-old starting to jump fences, and he doesn't take much work at home."

(Quotes by Donal Murphy)