Takarengo (blue and white) leads home Rebel Heart (nearest) and Groveman© Photo Healy Racing
Back on the level for the first time since November, Takarengo claimed the feature at Clonmel this evening, the Tipperary Perpetual Cup Handicap.
Third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October, the Tom Mullins trained five-year-old subsequently finished down the field in the November Handicap at Naas, before embarking on a hurdling campaign.
He was successful at Cork in March and was last seen finishing twelfth in a competitive handicap over flights at the Punchestown Festival.
Sent off at 5/1, he raced in fifth under Billy Lee and was pushed along in fourth entering the straight. He was ridden to challenge between horses from the furlong pole and kept on best in the closing stages to prevail by a head. Dark Heart (12s from 20s early) ran a fine race to finish second under Seamie Heffernan for James Nash, while Groveman (4/1) was a neck away in third. No Thanks was sent off the 9/4 favourite and he finished fourth.
Mullins said afterwards: "He surprised me as I was running out of options and there weren't many races he could run in. I was just running him and didn't think he was fit enough to win.
"He stays very well, you could see that in the Cesarewitch (last October) and getting him fit for that was the aim. I didn't want a penalty going but we'll take this as it's a nice, old race to win.
"His next run depends on the penalty he gets for winning. He hates hurdles."
STEWARDS REPORT
M.A. Enright, rider of King Of Cashel trained by J.A.Stack, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right down the hill and in the straight.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
