Soaring Monarch swoops in Roscommon

It was all change in the closing stages of the Sweeney Oil Handicap at Roscommon as Soaring Monarch came home late to conquer.

Hat-trick-seeking Kodiac Prince was bang there at the front in the final furlong, but this 1m2f trip appeared to stretch his stamina as he began to paddle looking for the line.

Soaring Monarch who was fully third-last turning for home had made good headway for Ronan Whelan and was switched to swoop between horses close home for a somewhat snug half-length success.

The winner obliged at 17/2 from 11/1 and beat Chavajod (28/1) into second. Kodiac Prince, the 5/2 favourite, dropped a neck further back to third.

Trainer Peter Fahey said: “He's a nice horse and everything had been going well with him all year.

“Basil (Holian, owner) is from Galway so going on there is a bit of a plan with him. It was a good run and the step up in trip definitely helped him.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson