Silver Concorde (noseband) comes through for the win under Leigh Roche© Photo Healy Racing
Leigh Roche was cool as 2014 Cheltenham Bumper hero Silver Concorde (10/1) showed his class to land the Tote November Handicap at Leopardstown.
Roche had to switch Silver Concorde from the inner, to get a run at the leaders in the final furlong of the mile seven big field event.
The Dansili gelding responded well to his rider's urgings to power up between rivals late, for a neck success.
George Baker 's English raider Guard Of Honour second in the Tote Cesarewitch at the Curragh two weeks back, had to settle for the runner-up position again.
Dermot Weld and Dr Ronan Lambe, trainer and owner of Silver Concorde, also had Zafayan in, but that ended up in 20th position under champion jockey Pat Smullen.
"It's a tough race and always a difficult one to call. He's a Grade 1 Cheltenham winner," commented Weld.
"He ran a very good race in the Irish Cesarewitch (7th there) when there was no gallop and it didn't suit him. Everything went right today and he just got there on the line.
"I only have a couple of jumpers this year and the plan with him is to reappear at Christmas in a maiden hurdle.
"The last time he ran here he was fourth in a Grade 1 hurdle. We'll see how he gets on at Christmas. He is a Cheltenham bumper winner and jumps super."
Mrs John Harrington, trainer of Modem (GB), reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that her charge met with interference in running.
C.D. Hayes, rider of Majenta trained by Kevin Prendergast, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount met with interference six furlongs out.
(GC & EM)
