Solar Heat (centre) beating Naturally Blond and Bilbo Bagins (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Dual-purpose mare Solar Heat recorded her fourth career win when taking the Thurles Beginners Chase in the hands of Barry Browne.
The Dot Love-trained eight-year-old had previously won twice on the all-weather at Dundalk plus a maiden hurdle at Clonmel and was sent off here an easy to back 6/1 chance.
Browne’s mount jumped past the front-running Naturally Blond at the second last but that rival kept at it well on the run-in and there was only a length and a quarter between the pair at the line. Bilbo Bagins was a further length adrift in third.
Mrs Love said, "I think personally the ride, more than the 5lbs claim, made the difference and I think he did everything right and she jumped her heart out and you couldn't fault them.
"Barry has been second for us in the past and that's his first win for us. He's a good jockey and timed it well today.
"She is owned by the West To Easy Syndicate, which are brothers Michael and Louis Conway who are Galway and Dublin based."
(TW & AM)
