Versatile Economy overturns Graduate

False Economy overturned the Even money favourite Notable Graduate as he took the Bryan MacMahon Qualified Riders Race over 1m 6f under Laura Hourigan for her father Michael.

The versatile 7yo son of Orpen was well supported on track and having opened at 6/1 was backed into 4/1 third choice of punters at the off.

Notable Graduate under Nina Carberry for Dermot Weld hit the front over a furlong from home but he couldn’t fend off the challenge of False Economy who hit the front well inside the final furlong and kept on well to score by just half a length.

The front pair went three and three parts of a length clear of the third placed horse who was 7/2 shot Elyaadi under Katie Walsh for John Queally.

Winning trainer Michael Hourigan said afterwards: "He is a dream to train. He is so versatile and his last three runs having now come on the flat, over hurdles and over fences.

"I said to the owners (Mrs Miriam Murphy) earlier that they are so lucky to have him.

"Obviously Notable Graduate didn’t travel and hopefully the handicapper won’t put him up thirty pounds after that!

"He loves quick ground and a good gallop and he might go to Royal Ascot now for the staying handicap over two and a half miles (The Ascot Stakes).

"They just hack in that race and then sprint. I ran Dorans Pride in it before and Jamie Spencer rode him. He should have won it but got knocked and locked in at different stages.

"He ran three days later and finished third in a conditions race there."

Laura Hourigan was recording her first winner in just over a year with her last racecourse success coming aboard Dingaling (runs in the next) also for her father at Killarney in a bumper on the 16th of May.

The winner was recording his seventh career success and was repeating his 2010 victory in the race this afternoon.

Donal Murphy & Thomas Weekes