Winning trainer John Monroe with Muzak after his win© Photo Healy Racing
The John Monroe trained Muzak ended the winning run of favourites at Ballinrobe as he took the Corrib Oil Handicap Chase at the odds of 5/2 under Mikey Butler. Instant Impacked was bidding to become the sixth winning favourite from six races this evening but the 2/1 jolly could only manage a disappointing last of the six finishers after making a mistake at the last when looking a beaten third.
The winning grey son of Moscow Society won the qualified riders handicap hurdle on the Friday of the Galway Festival under Katie Walsh but disappointing when bidding to quickly follow up in the handicap hurdle won by Georgie (re-opposed today) on the Sunday of Galway.
Back over fences today for the first time since June he was prominent throughout and came with his challenge before the second last.
In The Haven (11/2) lead him over the last but he soon hit the front and stayed on well from there to record a two and three parts of a length success over the aforementioned In The Haven in second for Philip Rothwell and Brian O’Connell.
The winner was returned the 5/2 second favourite and was well backed from his morning price of 4/1 with Paddy Powers and his opening show on track of 7/2.
Winning trainer John Monroe was met with plenty of local well-wishers afterwards and he said: "I'm very happy after that. He is a very genuine horse.
"I thought the ground wasn’t in his favour today but he battled well. Katie (Walsh) was to ride him but she got hurt last Thursday."
(On-course reporting Eamonn Murphy)
