Union Park (nearest) jumps past Rotten Row at the last © Photo Healy Racing
James O'Sullivan completed a double when giving Union Park (10/1) a lovely patient steer in the Kilsaran Handicap Chase.
Successful earlier on Tom McGreevy the Wexford man steadily made up ground from the rear of the field on Oliver Barden's seven-year-old who moved into contention on the run to the last.
Jumping past Rotten Row over that final obstacle, he quickly went clear to beat that rival by seven lengths.
“He ran in a chase at Ballinrobe a couple of months ago and we felt he ran a little bit flat so we gave him a holiday afterwards,” said winning trainer Philip Rothwell.
“He had a nice break and did very well. He came back with the idea of running in Galway but I just felt he wasn't ready enough.
“I had seen this race and we said we'd target it. The chase he ran in at Ballinrobe had nine runners and four of them have won since so it's amazing the way form works out.
“I didn't think this was the strongest chase in the world tonight and he has run very well over hurdles here before over two miles so the step up to two-three here was never going to be a problem. I thought it was a good opportunity.
“He's rated 100 over hurdles so we'll probably go back that route in the winter at some stage.
“I'd say that ground is ideal, it's probably yielding tonight. He wouldn't want it too heavy and he's a big horse so you wouldn't run him on quick.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
