Play It Again Zaam (nearest) just holds Barnhill Rose © Photo Healy Racing
Odd-on favourite Play It Again Zaam followed up last week's easy win at Gowran in division one of the seven-furlong handicap but it was a close run thing for Robert Whearty's mount.
Well in by 6lbs under his mandatory penalty, the 5/6 chance tracked the leaders before collaring Barnhill Rose in the final furlong and held that one's renewed effort by a head.
That mare had finished 10 lengths in arrears of Conor Maxwell's four-year-old at the Kilkenny venue.
“I was delighted to see the rain but at the same time it made it loose. He looked very impressive the last day on real tacky ground as it slows them down and he can plough through it,” said Maxwell.
“Today on looser ground they are able to get going and stay going and he just ground it out.
“It's nice to get two in a week. The runner-up has good form around here and it was a good weight carrying performance by her. We looked well in on paper but realistically he's been trying to win a 65 for a long time and it's nice to win a couple.
“He's in again on Friday (at Leopardstown) and we might take a chance again, we'll see how he is.
“He seems to be thriving on his racing and he might have got a bit of confidence for winning. We'll see what the ground is and we might roll the dice again.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
