Rooney delighted with Fashion gamble

Witness Of Fashion ended a barren spell stretching back over ten years for local trainer Patrick Rooney when landing a bit of a touch in the 2m5f handicap chase at Fairyhouse.

The Witness Box gelding, whose only previous success came just across the road in the point-to-point at Tattersalls Farm in December, was backed on track from 14/1 into half those odds.

Conor Maxwell’s mount asserted after two out and kept on well to beat Crowded Room by nearly five lengths.

The 3/1 favourite Hold Em Cowboy was a further 19 lengths back in third, with Refused A Name completing the placings in fourth.

Rooney said, “I took a licence out over ten years ago and I’d a winner in my first year with a horse called Captain Mike (at Roscommon in July 2003).

“I haven’t had a winner since and I’ve been a long time trying. We have been knocking on the door and hitting the crossbar, and it’s nice to get that at my local track. I train the other side of Ashbourne.

“He loved the ground, jumped well and stayed well. My wife is away for the weekend but she will be delighted and we’ll have to put a hold on the celebrations!”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson