Mountain Rock is ridden out by Jamie Codd to beat Storm Racer (red) and Lakemilan© Photo Healy Racing
Adrian Keatley was out of luck with his five horses at Chepstow this afternoon, but Mountain Ranger gave the Classic winning trainer a reason to smile, as he took the last at Killarney, the Christy Lucey Transport Ltd Flat Race.
Unplaced on his first two starts in point-to-point's, the son of Mountain High was still in contention when coming down at the last on his most recent outing at Maralin in May.
He was under the care of John Cullen for those three runs, and making his debut for Keatley today, he was sent off a 10/1 chance.
Settled behind the leaders by Jamie Codd, he was fifth with a circuit to race. He came with his challenge from the two furlong pole, and soon hit the front, keeping on well inside the final furlong to score by a length and three parts.
Newcomer Storm Racer (7/1) ran well to finish second under David Roche for Henry De Bromhead, while Lakemilan (12/1), who hit the front under three furlongs out, was half a length back in third under Johnny Barry for Terence O'Brien.
The Mick Halford trained Copernicus was sent off the well-backed 10/3 favourite (from 11/2) and he was three lengths back in fourth after racing keenly throughout.
Jamie Codd said afterwards: "He ran in a few point-to-points and Adrian (Keatley) bought him for the owner (Michael Fitzgerald).
"He worked well when I rode him in a bit of work with flat horses the other day and to be honest we were coming here with a great shout. We'll see what Adrian wants to do but he could go for winners' bumper if it suits."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
