Owega Star earns crack at graded company

A fine round of jumping enabled Owega Star to stretch away and win the Kevin McManus Beginners’ Chase at Listowel in good style.

The 11/10 favourite was joined after the third last by strong-travelling Clonbanan Lad (9/4), but quick jumps over the last two fences saw him pull away from Clonbanan Lad to score by four and a quarter lengths.

Trainer Peter Fahey said: “He had a good run the last day and has won round here before so we were pretty confident he would run well. He stays well and is a real galloper.

“He could go to Tipperary at the end of the month for a graded novice chase then he’ll have a bit of a break and we’ll freshen him up for a run at Christmas.

“He enjoys a cut. We started him off early in the season hoping it would be a wet summer like last year. We were running him on ground that was a bit quick. Hopefully he’ll climb the ladder a bit."

Jockey Andrew Leigh said: “That’s five or six winners I’ve had round here. I tried to keep it as simple as possible. I got a lead and then went to win the race.” Usuel Smurfer at 6/1 was third for Shark Hanlon and Danny Mullins. The two bottom weights – Dranagold and Mrs Mac Veale both fell.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes