Poignant success for the Dempseys with Derrinross

Derrinross made the breakthrough over flights in the Grade 3 Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle, as the 6/5 favourite Robin De Carlow failed to fire.

Trained by Philip Dempsey and ridden by his son Luke, the winner was successful on debut in a point-to-point at Oldtown in February of 2016.

He went down by just a nose on his most recent outing at Down Royal on St Stephen's Day, and was sent off a 16/1 chance this afternoon.

In front after the second, the seven-year-old son of Scorpion was pressed and joined approaching three out, but soon regained the lead.

He was ridden from the second last, and kept on well from there to score by four lengths, with Sams Profile (4/1) and Robbie Power filling the runner-up spot. Pleasure Dome was third, while Robin De Carlow was beaten from before the straight, and trailed home in fifth.

Philip Dempsey said afterwards: "My father (Des) died a few weeks ago and it's his horse. Luke told him the week before he died that he'd win on him, and maybe we had a little help from above.

"He was a very hard horse to keep sound last year. He wasn't doing a stroke in front, the ears pricked and he'd love that ground. When they came to him he'd always find.

"He was a good point-to-point winner. We hadn't any luck with him up to this and we were going to go chasing. On that performance you would have to think of staying hurdling.

"We had him in the last few weeks but the ground was too quick for him. I was talking to his other owner Tom Furlong, who does the gallops, and suggested we'd go for this.

"I was hopeful as we have never had such a run with him. He'd bits of problems last year but we were very happy with the way he was moving this year. I knew he'd like the ground and I knew he'd like the trip.

"He has a little nick but it doesn't look too serious and he could go for something like the Graded three-mile novice hurdle at Limerick over Christmas."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Robin De Carlow (GB), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

P. Townend, rider of Robin De Carlow (GB) trained by W.P. Mullins, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount did not handle the ground

Additional reporting by Alan Magee