Wedding encounter a winner

Jessica Harrington's other runner on the card at Thurles, Hint Of Frost took a horrible fall in race three, but the day concluded on a happier note for the Moone-handler when L'andana landed the Munster I.N.H. Flat Race under her daughter Katie.

The successful Robin Des Pres gelding ran with plenty of encouragement when debuting over hurdles at Gowran nearly three weeks ago.

Fitted with a hood this time after that sixth placing, the four-year-old got the better of Ken's Well who'd led over a furlong out, by three parts of a length.

"All credit goes to Robert (Power) as he bought him at the sales. He wants good ground, and the syndicate (the Soon To Be Named grouping) will have lots of fun with him next summer," commented the winning rider.

For his part Power explained: "I just liked him at the sales and thought he was very athletic. I met the syndicate at a wedding in Italy, and they wanted to buy a horse. He's been working well at home."

Regarding his injury (complex fracture of an eye socket sustained at the Galway Festival) Power explained: "I am going to see an eye surgeon, Ian Flitcroft, in the Mater Private next Tuesday.

"There are six muscles around the eye and they are not working together which is causing me to get double vision. I probably came back too quick at Gowran (briefly returned a few weeks back).

"It's very frustrating as I'm grand otherwise but your sight is obviously very important, and I need to get this sorted out. Hopefully I'll know more next week."

(AM & EM)