Clashnabrook jumps the last ahead of Rakamasi© Photo Healy Racing
The Eoghan O’Grady trained Clashnabrook completed a fabulous day for favourite backers at Gowran as the well backed son of Alderbrook took the last on the card, the Irish Racing Yearbook Handicap Chase, in convincing fashion.
Having opened at 7/2 with Paddy Powers this morning he opened on track at just 5/2 and was heavily backed into 7/4 favourite at the off.
Ridden by Phillip Enright, the 7yo gelding carried just 9-10 (rated 84 over fences compared to his mark of 110 over hurdles) and raced in mid-division for much of the contest.
He made headway approaching the straight to go fourth and he disputed the lead before the second last.
He soon hit the front and was driven out and kept on well on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths at the line from top weight Character Actor in second at 12/1 under Martin Ferris.
The veteran Rakamasi ran well to finish a further length and a quarter back in third under Adrian Heskin for Michael McElhone at 10/1.
Eoghan O'Grady said afterwards: "He is a fine big horse and he jumped well. He loves that ground and he will go for something similar around Christmas time. Phillip gave him a good positive ride.
"I have ten in at the moment and I had a double at Affane point-to-point last weekend."
(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
