Mr Bercow bags first fences win

Point-to-point and hurdle winner Mr Bercow gained a first fences success at Down Royal today, landing the Molson Coors Handicap Chase under a patient ride from jockey Keith Donoghue.

Mr Bercow raced in mid-field for much of the 2m4f trip and made late and gradual progress to wear down leader Wee Small Hours at the last, and score by four lengths.

Second-reserve and 4/9 favourite Routine Excellence was attempting to follow up Saturday's facile Navan success under a fixed 5lb penalty but blundered at the fourth last fence and faded to finish eighth.

Winning trainer Jim Dreaper was represented by his son and assistant Thomas Dreaper, who later said "two years ago when he won his point-to-point at Ballindenisk I didn't think I would be standing here two years later but he was a late developer in fairness.

"I know he is only a low-grade horse but each year it has been after Christmas that he has done anything. Before Christmas it is all very uninspiring and that was his first day in headgear.”

"He will stay beating away until the ground goes - we'll maybe throw him in a bigger rated handicap chase off 9-10."

Winning owner Elaine O'Farrell is well-known at Irish racecourses, through her business RaceDisplays which she runs with husband Declan O'Farrell, and Dreaper added "I can't say enough about the owners, they have had a handful of horses with us over the years. They're proper racing people, they will get more out of this than anyone.”

Mr John Bercow is a former Speaker of the House of Commons, holding the position from 2009 to 2019.

Quotes from Michael Graham