Brog Ahaon (16/1) sprang a surprise in the opener at Limerick this evening, the Broadford Handicap Chase.

Jordan Gainford was due to partner this Moses McCabe trained eight-year-old but he was stood down yesterday after a heavy fall in the opener.

Simon Torrens was called up to replace Gainford and he was never too far off the pace aboard the bay victor.

Pushed along approaching two out, he got to the front before the last and kept on well when ridden on the run-in, coming home two-and-a-half lengths to the good.

Bilbo Baggins (25s to 12s), who led for much of the contest, made a mistake two out and it may have ultimately cost him, as he eventually came home in second under Darragh O'Keeffe. Go Battle (10/1) was another length-and-a-quarter back in third, while Blackjack Boy who was returned the 3/1 favourite, finished a disappointing seventh.

"He wants good ground and that is the key to him. Limerick has been lucky for me," McCabe said.

"Jordan Gainford was unfortunate to have missed the ride as he was injured yesterday (stood down until Wednesday) and Simon Torrens was a good deputy."

Brog Ahaon was recording his second career success, with his previous win coming over flights at Kilbeggan in August of 2019.

Having missed the whole of last year, the Michael Hanrahan owned gelding return to action at Tipperary earlier this month, finishing down the field.

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Blackjack Boy, trained by E. McNamara, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have sustained a wound to his medial right hind cannon and left fore fetlock.

D.J. McInerney, rider of Butte Montana trained by Michael Winters, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount jumped poorly throughout and was subsequently pulled up.

The Stewards requested a report from Moses McCabe, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Brog Ahaon, placed first, as compared with its recent run at Tipperary on the 5th May when finishing thirteenth of seventeen finishers. Moses McCabe reported that his charge had been off the track since September 2020 when making his reappearance at Tipperary. On that day the gound had been watered and his charge struggled on the good to yielding surface. Today he appreciated the good fast ground and in his opinion this was the contributing factor to his victory. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes