Torrens rides out claim on McManus owned winner

Champion conditional Simon Torrens rode out his claim aboard Filon D’oudairies in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase.

The Co Tyrone native has enjoyed plenty of success since partnering his first winner at Down Royal in March of 2018, scooping many valuable handicaps for owner JP McManus.

It was fitting that Torrens rode out his claim on a McManus owned winner, with Filon D’oudairis bouncing back to form at 28/1.

The French bred six-year-old was completing an across the card double for trainer Joseph O’Brien, who was earlier successful at Tipperary with Seisai

Settled behind the leaders by Torrens, the bay victor took closer order from four out and was pushed along just behind the leaders as they entered the straight.

He got to the front shortly after the last and kept on well from there to score by three-parts of a length. Pat Coyne (9/2) ran on well to take second under Hugh Morgan for John Queally, while My Oakclahome (16s early, returned 9/2) was another half-a-length back in third. Our Friend was sent off the 7/2 favourite and he finished fourth.

“I rode once him once before. I suppose stepping-up in trip to two-and-a-half miles just probably helped him," Torrens said.

"It was probably a weak enough sort of race. It was a falsely run race as we went slow early. There was plenty of horses with a chance coming down the hill.

"That’s my claim gone now. It’s great and JP McManus has been a big supporter of mine and I can’t thank him enough. It means a lot to me to ride out my claim in these colours."