Petrol Head motors home for Donoghue

Petrol Head returned to form with a vengeance, and brought up a plethora of bets, in the Re/Max Team Earley Handicap Hurdle.

He was available at 18/1 in the morning but the price contracted throughout the day and shortened even more when morning-price favourite Unanswered was withdrawn after being found coughing in the stables.

Petrol Head (7/4 favourite) was always to the fore and took over from Ballinlough Gale three out. Keith Donoghue looked confident as he could afford a look between his legs on the run to the penultimate obstacle.

He got after Petrol Head upon touching down but the six-year-old gelding hadn't put the race away on the approach to the last as Makfils delivered his challenge on the inner.

The pursuer needed a good jump at the last but he fluffed his lines and Petrol Head found for Donoghue when ridden inside the final furlong.

The leader asserted to come in by two and three quarter lengths from Presenting Lad (5/1). Makfils was another half a length back in third at 7/1.

Trainer Ronan McNally said: "He obviously went up to 101 after his last win and he struggled a bit for a few different reasons.

“He went down a bit in the handicap and the handicapper was fair to him. He dropped him 6lb.

“With the favourite coming out, it gave everyone a chance. I don't think the favourite would have been beaten, that was a help.

“Today was the plan and we'll see how we get on now.”

Petrol Head doubled his career total today.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson