Persian Wind blows strongest in Gowran

Persian Wind (7/2) battled home from the front for Luke Dempsey in the concluding two mile handicap chase at Gowran Park. Effernock Lad and Dont Kick Nor Bite kept him honest in the latter stages and it was Dont Kick Nor Bite (4/1) who closed to within a neck at the line but a good run of jumping did the trick for the winner.

Effernock Lad dropped four and a quarter lengths away in third at 9/1.

"I don't think he'd have won at Navan the last day as Madeleine's horse (Tylicki, First To Boogie) was still going well but that was great today and he stayed at it well. I thought we were after getting done on the run-in but he battled well," trainer Philip Dempsey said.

"He jumps well, apart from the last with a circuit to go when Luke said they got their wires crossed, but he jumped brilliant on the whole.

"We thought all along we would be letting him off but we'll keep him going if he handles that - I thought he was more of a summer horse to be honest. We'll also have a look at his hurdles mark again."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes