Why Bother returned to form with avengence to land the featured www.limerick-racecourse.com Handicap Chase under Jimmy Mansell at the poorly attended Greenmount Park venue.
There were five of the seven runners still in with a chance at the second last in this two miles event, and Why Bother kept on best on the run-in to deny outsider Executive Way by a length and a half.
Winning trainer Stephen Ryan paid tribute afterwards to the role played by physiotherapist Barry O'Neill saying, 'Her jumping had become very cautious due to muscle problems in her hind quarters, and Barry has done a great job in sorting it out.'
Local handler Michael Hourigan was on the mark when Mr Sneaky Boo took the Munster May Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old was produced full of running by Paul Moloney in the straight and, despite a blunder at the final flight, kept on well to beat Black Church Lad by three and a half lengths.
'He was much better today than he has been all year, and will probably go to Killarney next week for something similar,' said Hourigan.
Albuquerque took full advantage of a loop-hole in the conditions of the Braddish Developers Novice Hurdle. Thomond O'Mara's charge was unpenalised for winning at Wexford last Friday, and followed up here when making all in the hands of Willie Slattery to beat Rugged Jacket by a length and a half.
Gamma-Delta may be heading soon to the Doncaster sales, and the Edward O'Grady-trained gelding increased his value when landing the Expo Novice Handicap Hurdle. Barry Geraghty sent the seven-year-old to the front before the last, and held the hard-ridden Monterey Bay by a neck.
Alan Magee
