The Banger Doyle and Carl Millar. © Photo Healy Racing
The John Queally trained The Banger Doyle survived a bad mistake at the last fence before running out a narrow winner of the Ladbrokes "5-A-Side" Handicap Chase at Punchestown.
A former bumper winner at the County Kildare track, the versatile eight-year-old had been mixing it between hurdling and the flat in recent starts.
Back over fences for the first time since last September, the Carl Millar ridden gelding was recording a second career win in the chasing ranks.
Always prominent from the off, The Banger Doyle took over in front from Uncle Phil with six still to jump. Initially, Grey Diamond gave chase but that horse was done with after three out. Gaelic Arc and latterly, Great Bear emerged as serious threats early in the straight but The Banger Doyle looked to have their measure before getting the last all wrong.
That mistake allowed the rallying Great Bear back into the race but despite the best efforts of jockey Mikey O'Connor, he lost out by a short head.
John Queally said: "He got his head in front at last. He’s a horse that never runs a bad race but for some reason he gets beaten.
“He gave an exhibition (of jumping) apart from the last.
“He’s still a maiden over hurdles and is rated about 20lb better off before today over hurdles so you’d imagine he should be able to win a handicap hurdle.
“He has lots of options and can go back on the Flat as well.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
