Three Comets and Nathan Crosse (nearest) beat Majestic Jewel© Photo Healy Racing
Nathan Crosse was seen to good effect as he rode out his claim on 40/1 shot Three Comets at Thurles this afternoon.
The Luke Comer-trained gelding just prevailed after a good final furlong duel with Majestic Jewel in the two-mile handicap.
Majestic Jewel, getting in as third reserve, hit the front two furlongs from home but was joined over a furlong out by Three Comets.
There was little between the pair in the closing stages but Three Comets had his head down at the right time to secure a hard fought short-head win.
The big priced winner had been well beaten on his last outing at Down Royal. The six-year-old was recording his first win since scoring as a two-year-old at Hamilton in August 2018.
Assistant Jim Gorman said afterwards:- "He is a lazy horse but has plenty ability and I have to get the jockeys to believe that the harder they work the more reward they'll get!
“I keep telling and telling them that you have to keep going with this horse.
"He ran well in a maiden hurdle in Galway in a race which has worked out very well and should be capable of winning a maiden hurdle. I don't think ground matters to him.
"We're on a good run and the horses are running well."
Crosse told Racing TV:- He has a little bit of a mind of his own. The plan wasn't to take our time but he wanted to do that.
“I thought I was going to run away and win well but he just had a little look when he got there. There is plenty of ability there.
“When we jumped off I thought we were going six furlong speed, especially in that ground, but luckily enough they all came back to us.
“He found his feet, found his rhythm, coming down the hill. I got him into a bit of daylight and he ran good and game to the line.
“That's the claim gone and I'm happy out. It's a big achievement to do it in Ireland, I think, and I'm happy to do it.
“Hopefully I can keep improving, keep building and getting contacts. Willie (McCreery) played a big part in losing my claim and Mrs Harrington as well.
“Getting put up on good horses makes it, not easy but a lot better. I'm very happy to ride for the people I am riding for.
“Mr Comer and Jim Gorman will have plenty of runners over the winter so hopefully I'll be riding a good few of them. With the claim going it's going to be a bit harder but I'll keep kicking.”
(Quotes by Tom Weekes)
