Lake bounces back to form The Robbie McNamara-trained Lake Takapuna won the day after a good duel with Eight Till Late in the closing stages of the Frank O'Beirne Memorial Handicap Chase at Sligo. The pair fought it out turning for home in the two-mile-one contest and there was nothing between them from the last. 10/1 shot Lake Takapuna just found a bit more close home, under David Mullins, to record a hard-fought neck success. The winner was bouncing back to form having been pulled up when last seen in action over timber at the Galway festival. David Mullins said afterwards:- “It was great for Robbie after losing the horse (Matin D’anjou in the previous race) and he does well with the few that he has. “He won a race at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day and we thought he was a good horse. I’d say he’s just a little bit tricky and he likes being ridden like that. “I probably got there a bit soon on him but he’s battled the whole way to the line. “Robbie Mc used to ride everyone to sleep from out the back and he gave me a text earlier saying basically do the same. It’s great that it has worked out.” (Quotes by Alan Magee)
