Clondaw Warrior arrives late and fast under Colin Keane to beat Benkei with Lonan in behind© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane and Clondaw Warrior (6/4 favourite) proved to be a match made in heaven as the Overbury gelding got back on the winning trail in the Galway Apprentice Handicap.
This seven-year-old generated plenty of chat last month when his romp at Tramore on debut for Willie Mullins, earned a 22Ib hike up the handicap.
Of course he failed to deliver (at odds of 2/9) under a mandatory penalty at Roscommon a couple of days later but he was switched off out the back on this occasion after being impeded early on.
The luckless Benkei nicely supported in first-time cheek-pieces, made a bold bid from the front and he looked like he'd maintain the gallop to score in the straight.
However Clondaw Warrior is a classy type as he showed when winning three bumpers and a hurdle, all in succession in 2011 and 2012.
Once he got the required racing room inside the last he quickened up to pass Benkei and prevail by a length and a quarter.
"He jumped well but they all came around me and I had to sit and suffer. I thought it was mission impossible at one stage in the dip but the gaps came at the right time and he won it well.
"The run the last day probably just came too soon. I'd love to ride him in something like the Cesarewitch," stated Keane.
Aine Casey and Gillian Walsh, members of the winning Act D Wagg Syndicate, were on hand to collect the winner's prize. (DM & EM)
