Kilmurry Jj , number 2, keeps on best© Photo Healy Racing
There was plenty going on in the REA Dooley Group Handicap Chase at Limerick, but in the end favourite backers breathed sighs of relief as they collected on Kilmurry Jj (2/1).
He was held up by John Shinnick and the pair were done no favours when Electric Dreamer departed six out and left Chainofconsequence at the head of affairs.
Chainofconsequence was clear after three out, but Kilmurry Jj began to make his move in third. Shinnick got after his mount and the duo moved ominously into a threatening position just off Chainofconsequnce in the straight.
Kilmurry Jj swept through to lead before two out and looked to have Cosmic Blizzard covered before the last, however, the loose horse shot right across Kilmurry Jj who was forced to hesitate.
Cosmic Blizzard picked up the lead in jumping it, but the loose horse crossed him on the run-in and Kilmurry Jj gamely stayed on to get up by half a length in the shadow of the post. Runner-up Cosmic Blizzard was an 11/1 chance and was a length and three-parts ahead of Chainofconsequence (7/1).
Terence O'Brien said: "This is what racing needs and we'd encourage more (syndicates) if we could. They get as much of a kick out of it as winning a big race and since they started off, 29 of the 30 are still in the syndicate.
"The syndicate has been self-financing as Mahler's Dollar was their first horse and he won them €40,000, so then we bought Emancipator with that money. With the prizemoney he won, we bought this horse and there's still money in the kitty.
"We buy horses with form as it is very hard to go the other way to buy store horses for €50,000 - where would you be going?"
Regarding the race, he added: "He was lucky three or four times as a horse fell in front of him at one stage and then the loose horse came across him. But he did very well to win it although it would have been a travesty if he had lost it.
"We'll trick away with him and he still has a nice mark over hurdles so we'll make use of that later on."
'The Banks Of My Own Lovely Lee' was given a rendition in the winner's enclosure by the delighted owners (TerenceOBrien Racing Syndicate).
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
