Undressed is ridden out by Mikey Fogarty© Photo Healy Racing
Michael Hourigan recorded his first winner in eleven months, as his Undressed stayed on best to take Racing Post EBF Beginners Chase.
Successful in a maiden hurdle in March of 2015, the eight-year-old son of Lost World went fourteen runs without success.
He did run some good race in defeat, but he was sent off a friendless 14/1 chance this afternoon, having opened on-course at 8/1.
Settled in mid-division by Mikey Fogarty, he was sixth with a circuit to race. He was ridden after five out, and was fourth after the third last.
He responded well to pressure and went third two out, staying on best to lead on the run-in, going on to score by two and a half lengths. Woodford Island finished second under Keith Donoghue for Gordon Elliott at 3/1, while Elliott also saddled the third, and that was Roman Gold (8/1) who was a further three and three parts of a length back under David Mullins.
The Charles Byrnes trained Oscar Lantern was the gamble of the race. He went as big as 13/2 on-course before going off the 11/4 favourite.
Ridden by Davy Russell, he never looked like winning and finished a disappointing last of the eleven runners.
Hourigan said afterwards: "He's a big old horse and a dour stayer. They went quick enough and I thought they would come back to him in the straight.
"The boys (the winning Golf At Ballyneety Syndicate) were getting a bit fed up and to be honest so was I. I'm just happy to have a winner."
STEWARDS REPORT
D.N. Russell, rider of Oscar Lantern trained by C.Byrnes, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount made a mistake at the third last and may have found the going a little fast.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
