Shinyhappyjohn and Donnacha O'Brien get the better of Times In Anatefka and Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
Shinyhappyjohn recorded his second career success as he took the XL Handicap for the second year in-a-row.
The James Nash trained five-year-old was sent off a 9/1 chance in the colours of owners Sean Forde and Michael Galvin.
Drawn on the wide outside the son of Captain Gerrard quickly made his way across towards the rails and disputed the lead.
He was ridden with under two furlongs to race and got to the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well close home to score by three parts of a length. Times In Anatefka (11/2 last night and returned 11/4), who disputed the lead with the winner from early, had to settle for second under Ronan Whelan for Adrian Joyce. Sweetie Jar (9/1) was a further length back in third under Shane Foley for John Murphy, while the 15/8 favourite (3's last night) Sofi’s Spirit was a further half a length back in fourth under Seamie Heffernan for Michael Browne.
James Nash said afterwards: "It must be his time of year as he won on this night last year!
"We'd nearly given up on him. I had been trying to sell him for the last two weeks but couldn't get a bid.
"We tried him over seven as a last resort last time and Pat Smullen said he didn't like horses crowding around him.
"I told Donnacha to go as hard as he could tonight and see if he kept going — and he did.
"He got put up a stone for winning here last year and struggled after that. The lads stuck with him and he's won again now.
"I'm not sure whether he'd win again under a penalty but we might try him on the turf where he is rated lower."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
