Ruby Walsh was denied a hat-trick at Fairyhouse today when his mount Clear Gold which matched at 1.01 in-running, faded in the run-in of the fairyhouseracecourse.ie Handicap Chase, leaving Barneys Honour under Davy Russell, to win by three lengths.
Clear Gold held a clear advantage from two out and merely looked to have to clear the final fence to score, but the 11yo gelding tired on the heavy ground on the run-in and was headed by Barneys Honour close home.
Afterwards Barneys Honour's trainer Philip Rothwell stated “I'm delighted to have won a handicap as I thought his 5lbs rise for his runner-up effort at Thurles recently was harsh. We'll see what the handicapper does with him now but he is in at Navan on Saturday and, if he receives a big penalty for today's win, I may be forced to run him under his fixed penalty.”
