18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

A pleasant day for Browne aboard Spancil Hill

Thu 12th Nov 2020, 16:30

Spancil Hill and Barry Browne (left) jump the last ahead of eventual runner-up Hoke Colborn (right)Spancil Hill and Barry Browne (left) jump the last ahead of eventual runner-up Hoke Colborn (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

Spancil Hill (8/1) won the Prior Park Service Station Handicap Chase under 3lb claimer Barry Browne.

Plenty held chances turning into the home straight, but the Flemensfirth gelding led away from two out and held the staying-on Hoke Colborn (13/2) by a length and a half. An Marcach (11/1) was a further three and a half lengths away in third while the 4/1 joint-favourites Getaday (7th) and Weihnachts (9th) could find no more in the closing stages.

The winner, owned and trained by absent Co.Clare handler Michael McDonagh, was gaining a fourth career success and it was his first run over fences in nearly a year, having come back from a summer break with a couple of encouraging efforts over hurdles last month.

It was a fourth winner of the campaign for the winning rider.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.