Colms Dream pictured on his way to victory under Donagh Meyler© Photo Healy Racing
Colms Dream completed his hat-trick in style as he ran out an easy winner of BETDAQ.COM 50% Commission Refund Handicap Chase.
Successful at Roscommon last month and over the course and distance just under a fortnight ago, the Karl Thornton trained six-year-old was sent off the 9/4 favourite today.
Having raced in third in the early stages he improved into second at the seventh and made further progress to dispute after the tenth.
He hit the front four out and travelled strongly into the straight, stretching clear after the second last, going on to score easily by twelve lengths with Donagh Meyler in the saddle. Ballyfinboy finished second at 7/1 under Kevin Sexton for Jimmy Finn, while By The Banks was a further nineteen lengths back in third under Ben Dalton for Denis Cullen at 8/1. Just Get Cracking was ridden in second when he made a bad mistake at the second last. His rider Phillip Enright did will to stay on board and they eventually finished fourth.
Karl Thornton said afterwards: "He likes that ground. I was worried in Killarney that it was too quick for him. But that kind of ground is fine - once it's not heavy.
"I'm hoping he might sneak into the bottom of a good race. He could step up to three miles and I had the Paddy Power in my head.
"He's done the job today again anyway and doesn't owe us anything."
STEWARDS REPORT
A. Ring, rider of Notimetoserve trained by P.J. Rothwell, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount never travelled and was pulled up.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
