Gegenpressing and Chris Hayes edge ahead of Ducky Mallon (grey) and Ever Rock© Photo Healy Racing
Gegenpressing provided Eddie and Patrick Harty with their second winner in the space of four days, as he got up in the closing stages to land the Carlsberg Handicap.
Successful at Galway on Sunday with Evening's Empire, the father and son team also hit the crossbar at Roscommon yesterday, with Lily Light Foot filling the runner-up spot.
Third on two of his last three starts, Gegenpressing was sent off the 4/1 favourite this evening and was settled behind the leaders by Chris Hayes.
Pushed along in third approaching the straight, he was ridden and switched off the rail to challenge from the furlong pole, edging to the front inside the final 100 yards before going on to score by three-parts-of-a-length.
The front-running Ducky Mallon (28/1) ran a cracker to finish second on his return to action after a lengthy layoff, while the well-backed Ever Rock (12s early, returned 9/2) was a head back in third.
"Fair play to the lads in the Game Syndicate because he's a horse that has tested everyone's patience," Patrick Harty said.
"They got him last year through the claiming system. He's hit the crossbar a few times and he deserved to win one.
"He needs his conditions, a little ease in the ground and I think he loves these tight little tracks. It looked like he had a good chance today and it was cosy in the end.
"It was nice for him to have something to run at and it worked out nicely.
"We've got the horses in a good place and anything that's good enough to compete is competing. It's up to us to find the right races for them."
STEWARDS REPORTS
At the request of the Stewards, W.J. Lee, rider of Pilbara Gold trained by Andrew Kinirons, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was drawn wide and was always chasing the race before he eased her down when her chance was gone.
K.J. Leonard, rider of Talking Tough trained by S.M.Duffy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was checked within a couple of strides after leaving the starting stalls.
J.A. Powell, rider of Hot Whispers trained by Shane Nolan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got upset in the starting stalls and missed the break.
Brandon Wilkie, rider of Hands Down trained by C. Moore, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away from the starting stalls.
A.J. Slattery, rider of Derrinlaur Spender trained by Eoin Joseph McDonagh, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got a bump on leaving the starting stalls.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
