Daigreen approaches the line under Pat Smullen clear of Hurricane Sky© Photo Healy Racing
Recent course and distance winner Daigreen repeated the dose this evening as he took the Friends of Western Alzheimers Handicap for his trainer Joanna Morgan, making it four from four for favourite backers at Ballinrobe.
The 3yo son of King's Best was well backed when he won here last time out but he drifted today from his opening show with Paddy Powers this morning of 13/8 and his opening show on course of 2/1 out to his starting price of 5/2 favourite at the off.
Having raced in third in the early stages he improved into second under three furlongs out and hit the front with less than two to race.
He kept on well in the straight to hold off the challenge of Hurricane Run and win by a comfortable two lengths at the line.
Hurricane Run was backed on course from 9/2 into 3/1 (was as big as 7/1 with Paddy Powers this morning) but he just couldn’t match the winner and had to settle for second under Fran Berry (one pound overweight) for Charles O’Brien.
The front duo went fourteen lengths clear of the third placed horse who was Choislady at 20/1 for Pat Kelly with Seamie Heffernan aboard.
Joanna Morgan said afterwards: "I love this place, my horses just seem to fly here. It suited him as he can be a bit keen and they go quick and that helped him to settle.
"He is in again at Killarney on Thursday in a 3yo only handicap and he will run there if he is ok after this. He will go hurdling eventually.
"I didn’t back him today as I was afraid of McManus's but I did do the forecast."
The winner is owned by Morgan's mother Margaret.
(On-course reporting by Eamonn Murphy)
