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Beckett best after dramatic Munster Hurdle

Beckett Rock and Rachael Blackmore Beckett Rock and Rachael Blackmore
© Photo Healy Racing

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Beckett Rock emerged on top after a dramatic running of the Munster Hurdle at Clonmel this afternoon.

5/6 favourite Bunting made the running in the two-miler but Paul Townend had to perform heroics to stay in the saddle after he pecked badly after the third last.

Beckett Rock improved to lead and dispute from there but the other Willie Mullins runner Got Glory loomed large behind the pair going to the second last, only to crumple on landing there and crash out.

Beckett Rock had the advantage from Bunting going to the final flight but wasn’t fluent himself there.

Rachael Blackmore kept her mount going on the run-in and he was always doing enough to post a three-parts-of-a-length win.

The 5/1 shot, a winner on debut back in November 2023, had been fourth on his return to action at Punchestown last month.

De Bromhead said:- “It was nice to see him step forward from his first run. He got a bit lost the last day.

 

“He got hurt after he won on debut at Gowran and Michael (O’Flynn, owner) has been really patient with him and it’s nice to see his patience being rewarded.

 

“He toughed it out there. Obviously things fell his way a little bit but we’ll take it.”

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.