Mahon hitting form ahead of Galway

Stephen Mahon saddled his third winner in four days as Cable wore down Valgor Du Ronceray in the beginners' chase at Limerick.

Valgor Du Ronceray looked to have put the race away as he was a good three lengths clear coming to the last. However, he made a mistake there which stalled his progress just as Cable was beginning to stay on.

The two horses were moving at vastly different speeds on the run-in and it was fast-finishing Cable who swept past his rival close home to score by a length and a quarter at 14/1.

Valgor Du Ronceray was 4/1 joint favourite. Sharlanda kept on for third at 10/1, beaten three and a quarter lengths by the winner.

Stephen Mahon said: "The horses are all running well and while I want them peaking for Galway, it'll be grand and we'll be able to tick them over now. I'd prefer having them this way than last year, when they were flat before Galway and I ended up with four seconds.

"The ground turned soft for him at Clonmel and it didn't suit him and that was grand today and the ground suited. I'll keep him chasing now and he can go to Galway next."

Regarding his good recent spell, he added: "Having winners is like putting hay in the shed for the winter - there'll be plenty of hay made and put in the shed as there will be plenty wet days in Galway!

"Whatever I can get in will run in Galway - the kids' ponies won't be going but that's about it!"

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes