Whelan completes Limerick double on well backed Church

Jockey Ronan Whelan registered a second winner on the afternoon when staying on late aboard the well backed Lord Church to take the Ryans Cleaning Handicap at Limerick.

Mid division in three maiden runs as a juvenile, the son of Churchill was subsequently gelded and put away for the winter.

Trained by Michael Halford & Tracey Collins, the three-year-old was clearly expected to benefit from the break, being well supported from odds against into 4/5f.

Sitting just off the pace entering the straight, Whelan moved closer to challenge leader Poppadom over a furlong out, with the pair settling down for a battle inside the final furlong.

The eventual winner just got the better of things close home, staying on for a three quarter lengths success.

Michael Halford said: "You don't often get races of that calibre breaking up into numerically as much as today's but he is a smashing big individual who is a work in progress.

"He ended up doing it well when he hit the line, will go another furlong and will appreciate better ground; it is quite holding and he is a good actioned horse.

"He is a big horse and thankfully Brian Galvin his owner has been very patient with him and his half-sister won in Roscommon on Monday. He has taken time and hopefully will keep progressing.

"He has a nice bit of pace and I think a mile might be good for him."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.