Solwhit's lead horse gets his day in the sun

Lash It On ran out a convincing winner of the Charity Auction Handicap Chase under Rob Jones for trainer Charles Byrnes.

After thirteen efforts without a win on the track, the seven-year-old son of Anshan went 'pointing' in October of last year, and he won on his first start ‘between the flags’ at Kinsale.

He finished fourth on his next start at Dromahane in November, and wasn’t seen again until August of this year, finishing a well-beaten twelfth behind Baidin Fheilimi in a handicap hurdle at Cork.

Back over fences today, the bay gelding opened at 6/1 with Paddy Power this morning, drifting out to 12/1 on-course before going off an 8/1 chance.

He travelled best alongside Pat Garrett approaching the second last, and when that one blundered at the penultimate obstacle, Lash It On went clear, keeping on well in the run-in to score by eight lengths at the line. The Colleen Ban kept on to take second at 33/1 under Philip Enright for Maureen Danagher while Sonic Beat was half a length back in third under Andrew Leigh for Jarlath Fahey at 25/1.

Pat Garrett, who was sent off the 2/1 favourite, finished a further five and a half lengths back in fourth under Davy Condon for Noel Meade.

Charles Byrnes said afterwards: "He is rated 77 and he is bottom of the pile so I was no more than hopeful today. He is Solwhit's lead horse."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham