Whatuthink pictured winning over hurdles at Down Royal last time out© Photo Healy Racing
Front running tactics having been working a treat for Oliver McKiernan trained runners recently and they worked again in the last at Leopardstown tonight as Whatuthink took the Follow Leopardstown on Facebook Handicap under Leigh Roche.
Sent off the 3/1 favourite (sixth winning favourite of the evening, including joint favourites), the 10yo son of Presenting made all and kept on well in the straight when ridden.
His lead was reduced in the closing stages but he held on well to score by half a length at the line.
The Pat Martin trained Donatis Comet ran on well to take second at 11/2 under Pat Smullen while Concrete And Clay was a further two and a half lengths back in third at 7/2 for Charles O’Brien with Fran Berry aboard.
The winner was recording his second successive victory having scored over hurdles at Down Royal last month.
He has been a good servant to connections and was recording his seventh career success today having won a bumper, a maiden hurdle, two hurdles, a novice chase and now two races on the level.
Winning trainer Oliver McKiernan said afterwards: “He travelled well this evening and is just in good order at the minute. He has an entry in Cork tomorrow (in a hurdle) and we will see happens in the morning and how he pulls out of this.
"He loves what he is doing and if you don’t let him race he gets into a bit of a tizzy at home. When we let him race it relaxes him.
"He is a little bit like wine as he is getting better with age. Galway will be on the menu now and he will be entered in the Hurdle and the Amateur riders race on the first day."
Devil's Bit who finished fifth in the race was disqualified by the Stewards as his rider Shane Gorey failed to weigh in.
(On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
