Gearoid Brouder and Conan's Rock© Photo Healy Racing
Owner Bill Foley and trainer Jim Gorman enjoyed a pleasing result in the INBA Student Betting Voucher Handicap at Leopardstown with a first and fourth placing. Nine to one chance Conan's Rock with 10Ib claimer Gearoid Brouder up, took the honours. Liberty To Rock also in the familiar white and black check, finished fourth. Riding his second winner, Brouder made virtually all on Conan's Rock and he asked his mount for more from early in the straight. He had a willing partner in the Shamardal gelding and at the finish the combination were four and a half lengths to the good from Punches Pious
There were some notable disappointments here with the fancied trio Sophisticated Heir (5/2 favourite), Sretaw (4/1) and Hurdler And Farmer (13/2) managing no better than ninth, eighth and fourteenth respectively.
Gorman reported: "The horses are coming back into a bit of form and this fellow ran well on his last couple of starts.
"He goes on the ground and I think the Gearoid's 10Ib claim was a big help.
"It was always the plan to have him ready early as he needs a cut in the ground.
"We might up him in trip and he could go to Limerick next week."
The Curragh handler signed off by quipping: "He probably won too far."
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Hurler And Farmer trained by D. T. Hughes, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(GC & EM)
