Sense Of Awareness won an incident packed seven runner Waterford & Tramore Directors Handicap Chase at Tramore this evening, winning for jockey Davy Russell and trainer Liam Cusack.

The bend away from the stand gave plenty of trouble during the race with Wee Sonny slipping badly and unseating Mattie Bowes on the first circuit while Paddy O’Dee slipped up at the same point on the next circuit. Best Of Bocelli who slipped briefly, was fortunate to avoid similar misfortune.

The running rail on the bend was subsequently altered before the start of the next race while sand was also applied.

Following Sense Of Awareness’ win, Cusack said “he handles this place very well and received a lovely patient ride. It’s nice that he has got his day as he isn’t the easiest to keep sound. He’s a horse who is ‘caught between two stools’, as his rating is too high for the lower graded handicaps and too low for the higher graded ones.”

Thomas Weekes