General Clermont leads Lucky Policy over the last© Photo Healy Racing
General Clermont brought his career tally to three, as he readily accounted for his 10-rivals in the Wexford Fleadh Cheoil Opportunity Handicap Chase.
A winner over flights at Killarney in August of last year, the Davy Fitzgerald-trained eight-year-old again hit the target when successful over the larger obstacles at Limerick in May.
Disappointing at Kilbeggan on his most recent start when scoping wrong post race, the Derek Mara-owned gelding was sent off an 11/2 chance (10s early) this evening.
Soon settled behind the leaders by Gavin Brouder, he took closer order from four out and went second on the inner before on the approach to the straight.
Travelling best before the last, the 104 rated victor was soon pushed along to lead and stretched clear on the run-in, coming home four-and-three-parts of a length to the good.
The front-running Lucky Policy (12/1) had to settle for second Jake Coen for Paul Flynn, while An Peann Dearg (6/1) was just a neck away in third.
Returned joint-favourites at 5/1, Quest With Speed and Malton Groove finished fourth and fifth respectively.
"You can put a line through his last run at Kilbeggan. I knew after jumping three fences that he wasn't doing the things he usual does. He found it hard to get into that race and we knew he wasn't right," Brouder revealed.
"To be fair to Davy he gave him all the time off his needed when I was off as well. We both came back fairly well today!
"He is a very hot horse and is hard to deal with. He does everything a little bit on the mad side. Today I was still holding on to him coming down to the last.
"If they had went slow early it wouldn't have worked out, I was finding it hard to keep my hands down on him to keep him relaxed. The fact they went off so quick he relaxed on his own after a while.
"That's the third time I've won on him now and hopefully he can build on this now."
