Rothwell full of praise for O'Connell

Decade Player (8/1) followed up on his win at Tipperary last month as he made all to take the Robinson Services Handicap Chase.

The Philip Rothwell trained five-year-old son of Gamut raced in a clear lead for much of the contest, but his advantage was reduced after the fifth last as the field tighten up.

He maintained his lead and travelled best approaching two out, and despite getting a bit weary on the run-in, he responded well for pressure as he pulled out more close home to score by a length and a quarter. Protaras (Paul Townend and Noel Meade) and Mad Brian (Keith Donoghue and Gillian Callaghan) were the two who challenged the winner on the run-in, but they couldn’t get passed, and they had to settle for second and third at 10/1 and 8/1 respectively. Back Off Mate was sent off the 11/4 favourite (opened at 7/2 on-course) but he could only manage seventh under David Casey for Arthur Moore.

Philip Rothwell said afterwards: "Paul Townend (who rode Decade Player to win at Tipperary) didn’t think this horse would jump around these fences so he wouldn’t ride him, so when some other riders knew this they declined to take the ride.

"I rang Eddie O’Connell and explained that I didn’t want to put anyone in danger, but I thought he would jump around here. I’m really delighted with Eddie for doing what I asked him to do. He gave him a super ride.

"Even the day he didn’t jump well at Listowel he was careful.

"He will get a little break now. He could go to Leopardstown at Christmas but I’m thinking about a good novice handicap chase at Fairyhouse at Easter."

Afterwards the Stewards suspended Eddie O'Connell for one day, after he weighed in 1.6 pounds overweight.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham