Supreme Builder showed a very willing attitude to land the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase and provide trainer John “Shark” Hanlon with his 100th winner under rules.
In an incident-packed three mile race, the ten-year-old gelding was left clear after both Roberstown Rover and Glenmorgan House exited at the fifth last fence.
However Brian Hayes' mount appeared to stall in front, and was joined by a number of rivals before the next fence.
A loose horse (Roberstown Rover) threatened to play an unwanted role as Supreme Builder was slightly hampered at the second last but he kept out of harms way after that as the 10/1 winner and Jolily (100/30fav) settled down for a tremendous battle.
The pair were in the air together at the last but Hayes just got that little bit extra out of his mount on the run-in to prevail by half a length. There was a huge gap of 38 lengths back to Cochise (14/1) in third.
A delighted Hanlon said, “That's my 100th winner excluding point-to-points, although for the last three weeks I thought it would never happen.
“He was entitled to win as he's been running well the whole time, and will probably run again at Gowran on Saturday. Brian said he'd plenty left in the tank and was idling in front.”
