Rock solid effort from Gorman's topweight Jim Gorman and Kevin Manning teamed up to land division one of the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap as the durable Rigid Rock defied topweight in the opener. The five-year-old son of Refuse To Bend was gaining his fifth career victory but his first at the track, although he’s run well in defeat on the polytrack many times in the past. Manning prized an opening just over a furlong out to strike the front, and the 13/2 chance held on gamely by a neck from the strong-finishing Till Dawn (16/1), who incidentally paid a massive €71.80 for a place on the Tote. Cookie Crumbles, available at 10/1 this morning and supported from 6/1 into 9/2 on track, completed the placings a length and a quarter further back in third, while 4/1 favourite Whatyoumaycallit dead-heated for fourth spot with One Of Three. Gorman said, “He’s a tough little horse and very consistent. He runs his heart out all the time. I thought he’d run a big race tonight and he did. “I’m not sure what opportunities he’ll get here now as he’ll be gone out of the 65 bracket after this and if your rated 68 or 69 you don’t get a run in better class handicaps.”
