John Storey stays on stoutly to prevail in Fairyhouse "We were watching it on telly and when I saw him fall out of the picture I thought ‘oh jaysus, this is a pu (pulled up)’ but, when he came back into the telly, he just started picking them off. All he does is stay," said trainer Liam Cusack who succinctly summed up John Storey's victory in the Happy Retirement To Noel Fanning Handicap Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The always-prominent Crossing The Bar had gone for home in the straight, but John Storey had built up a head of steam and collared him in jumping the last to win by two and three-quarter lengths at 18/1. Runner-up Crossing The Bar ran well for a long way at 10/1 and was seven lengths in front of Read To Return (7/2). Healdsburg (12/1) was a nose back in fourth for his each-way backers. Cusack added: "It was a very good ride. I said to the owner that they were going very quick early on and we wouldn’t have any great early speed. “He took his time. I said if he could get into a rhythm and travel and, when you go for him, go for him and he’ll just stay going. “He ran a nice race the last day in Punchestown when he was only beaten about seven lengths, the inside track there was probably a bit tight for him. He was staying on again. “He needs all that trip and if he jumps a fence down the road he’ll stay. He’s by Yeats and is tough. “We bred him ourselves and he owes us a few quid at this stage! It’s nice for him to win. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
