Lee dominates mares' handicap chase as Eddies Pride wins

Strong-travelling Eddies Pride led home a one-two for trainer Norman Lee in The Glenary Mares Handicap Steeplechase over 2m7f in Clonmel.

The Lee-trained pair of Eddies Pride and Seangoell fought out the spoils when they went on from Barbaha Queen two out.

Seangoell made a slight mistake there but rallied for JJ Slevin, however, Eddies Pride was going much the better with a narrow advantage under Gary Noonan.

Eddies Pride jumped the last in good style and had the race won as she bounded home by four lengths at 9/2 from the 10/3 runner-up.

Lee said: "It was a pity to run both horses against each other and we had planned in keeping them separately, but with so many meetings being called off it was a great result.

"We had a one-two previously in Ballinrobe and they are grand, solid, old mares who are healthy and well and will stay going as long as there is an ease in the ground. They'll either be put in foal this or next year.

"The winner is owed by Eddie Naughton who is a good supporter of ours and the mare is doing her job away at her level. Gary gave her a great spin."

He added: "We have decided to tighten things up with having 20 horses as getting staff is tough and I'm riding out seven or eight every day.

You can be too busy so we're trying to get more quality. We have a few nice four-year-olds and a small but good team."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes