Lash but only just for Byrnes and Russell

After looking assured of victory in front from before the last, it got desperate for Lash It On at the finish, but the Anshan gelding did enough to come out on top in the Tom Murphy (Mercedes-Benz) Car Sales Handicap Chase at Tramore.

At a different level than when they grabbed the headlines with their hat-trick coup at Roscommon recently, Charles Byrnes and Davy Russell struck with the Byrnsey Boys Syndicate owned ten-year-old, but in customary style he didn't go un-backed (7s into 5s).

Russell, who chipped a bone in his foot at Kilbeggan last Saturday, was back when second on Bye Bye O Bye in the opener here, and he kept Lash It On going to hold One Fine Morning and Stonehall Jack by three parts of a length and a short head.

"It suited him to be kept away from the rest of the field and he just lasted it out. He was fairly tired at the finish. He is in again on Sunday but it's unlikely he'll run again as he had a hard race there," com mented Byrnes.

S.W. Flanagan, rider of Naughty Molly trained by J.R. Barry, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount never travelled.

(DM & EM)