Michael Graham
Surf Club one for Mullins and O'Keeffe
Surf Club gets away from the last as Sphagnum departs
© Photo Healy Racing
Surf Club was left clear to pick up the first prize in the extended 3m1f handicap chase at Limerick.
The 9/2 shot was one of four horses (Broken Ice, Nazine and Sphagnum in a virtual line two out. He led narrowly over the last ,but Sphagnum capsized and brought down Nazine.
This left Surf Club and Sean O'Keeffe to come home by 10 lengths from Definiteadare (14/1) as Broken Ice made a mistake at the last and dropped to a moderate third (3/1).
O'Keeffe said: "In fairness to him, he is a great jumper and has two runs over fences, and two wins. It is a big asset to him and he likes nicer ground as well.
"Going to the last fence, I thought I was holding him (Sphagnum) and I knew with a good jump that my lad was going to stay going. In fairness, he did it well.
"He had been running on heavy ground during the winter and, in fairness, Willie (Mullins) has kept him in and it has paid dividends."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes