Knights Templar (white cap) comes through to win under Gary Halpin© Photo Healy Racing
Pat Flynn recorded a 1, 2 in the Daily Mirror Handicap as Knights Templar lead home stable companion Twistsandturns
Gary Halpin was aboard the winner and he was completing an 89/1 double having earlier won aboard Flirt
A winner at Roscommon and Leopardstown earlier in the season the Simon Girvan owned victor was sent off an 8/1 chance having disappointed on his last two starts.
Settled behind the leaders he travelled well with under two furlongs to race but Halpin was forced to wait for a gap.
Once the gap arrive inside the final furlong he was soon ridden to lead and kept on well in the closing stages to score by a length.
Twistsandturns (14/1 to 10/1 on-course) was second under Danny Grant while Easy Boy who was prominent throughout, was a neck back in third under Colin Keane for Pat Martin at 8/1.
Pat Flynn said afterwards: "I thought the two would run well. It's a shame they both had to run in the same race, I was hoping they would divide the race. The other horse (Twistsandturns) ran a good race as well.
"The conditions were ideal for both. Knights Templar is a nice horse. He is a bit of a hold-up horse and he did the business."
Gary Halpin, who was recording his first winner for Flynn, added: "I had to sit for plenty of time but I don't think he was ever going to be a loser. He was a winner every where he went and had plenty of boot to get through the gap.
"He jumps and travels. He is getting older and wiser and he doesn't want to get there too soon. He just does enough when he has to."
STEWARDS REPORT
D.P. McDonogh, rider of Athassel (GB), trained by T.J. O'Mara, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was repeatedly denied a clear run in the latter stages of this race and was unable to make a challenge.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
