Philip Rothwell (centre) pictured with Mark Me Up & Popaflora (grey) and winning rider Andrew Ring (right)© Photo Healy Racing
The Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase provided Philip Rothwell with a dream result as the Tinahely trainer saddled a 1-2 with Mark Me Up and Popaflora
Andrew Ring bided his time on the nine-year-old gelding as stable-companion Popaflora and Hidden Present forced the pace in this two-mile event.
However the son of Mark Of Esteem made up gradual headway in the straight to lead at the final fence, and drew clear on the run-in to score by a length and three quarters.
Hidden Present was a further half-length back in third. El Mondo was knocked out of the race four out where Castle Anshan blundered and hampered the aforementioned joint favourite, while recent Naas winner Reality Dose was chasing the leaders when falling at the next fence.
Rothwell said, “He won off a similar mark last year. I fancied him a bit at Naas the last day but the hill seemed to catch him out a bit. We said we’d come back here as he won over hurdles here before.
“The horses have been in really good form the last couple of weeks, and hopefully there are many more winners to come.”
He added, “Popaflora was in a two and a half mile chase at Clonmel tomorrow which I would have preferred to run him in. But that looked doubtful so we decided to let him take his chance here. He’s a mud lover.”
