Spancil Hill lands Clonmel feature for Landers/McDonagh

Spancil Hill recorded a fifth win for connections and his second this season when taking the featured Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase at Clonmel.

The Michael McDonagh-trained gelding, friendless at 18/1 despite winning at this venue last November, was prominent throughout and the extended 2m6f event developed into a three-horse affair in the straight.

Little separated the trio at the last but Spancil Hill got away from it quickly and stayed on strongly for Cathal Landers to beat 2/1 favourite Marshalled by four and a quarter lengths.

The veteran Macs Legend ran a cracker under top-weight but pecked badly after the last finishing a further three and a half lengths away in third.

Landers said, "He was jumping out of my hands carrying me everywhere. I wanted to sit for the first lap but he was out-jumping the one in front so I left him bowl away and he was happy getting lengths at his jumps and doing it easy.

"I thought I was beaten coming down the hill but he dug it out well, winged the last and I knew I had them after the last. He is a good honest horse."

(TW & AM)