Rock and Barry O Neill win the Lorna Brooke Handicap Steeplechase Healy Racing © Photo Healy Racing
The Shark Hanlon trained Dragon Rock ran out an impressive winner of the third running of the Lorna Brooke Ireland v Britain(Q.R.) Challenge Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.
Ridden by Barry O'Neill, the seven-year-old moved stylishly behind the leaders Killashee and Weihnachts entering the straight, heading the former on the run to two out. Dragon Rock had that horses measure when she came down at that aforementioned fence.
Weihnachts had no more to offer back in third, as the topweight stretched clear for an easy 9 length success. Broken Ice ran on late to take second for the Irish with Team GB back in third.
“He loves soft ground and loves a trip,” said Hanlon. “I bought him out of Willie's last year for seven grand.
“Brian Hughes is a fair judge, he rode him in Bangor one day when the ground was goodish and he said 'don't run this horse on this kind of ground anymore. I want you to bring him back for all the nationals next year, he'll stay all day'.
“Rachel owns him with a few other people and it's great to get it. It's great to see the horses back well again, I had a quiet spell but they are back flying again.
“I love having a good chaser and I think he's a nice chaser. It was an ordinary race, he carried a lot of weight and was the best horse in it. I'm delighted to have the job done now.
“We'll have a look for something over Christmas. My own young lad has actually got his licence in England today and we're absolutely thrilled, he's only 16.
“He can ride in hunter chases and some of those chases in England. I'll probably get a phone call in about five minutes that he has a race picked out for him in England!
“If he has, we're not going to stop it. He's a good fun horse and he jumps well. The only mistake he made there was at the last and I shut my eyes!'
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
