He had the horse underneath him alright, but Sean Flanagan gave Icelip (on his first start since last July) a beautiful patient ride to follow up his win last year, in the South East Cleaners Handicap Hurdle at Tramore. That was two races down at the seaside venue, and two winners for the County Wexford jockey, victorious in the opener on Vincent Halley's Sparkalark

Flanagan actually got up close home on Sparkalark, to deny David O'Brien's 50/1 shot, Fritz Grasland half an hour earlier. Here he teamed up with Piltown handler O'Brien, on the Fastey For Fun Syndicate owned 5/1 scorer.

From near New Ross, Flanagan can number Tramore as one of his local tracks, and he's really pleasing his followers at this fixture, having won here on Cabarete at 16/1 last evening.

The sweet-travelling Icelip was delivered from off the pace to lead from the last, going on to defeat Day Day by a length and a half.

"He got a bit of a leg after Killarney last year so we were hemming and hawing whether we'd run him. But they done a great job watering the ground here," commented O'Brien.

"I can forgive Sean Flanagan now for beating us in the first race! This fellow can be keen and Sean got him well-settled. It's great for John Grant (one of the Fastey For Fun Syndicate) who is eighty-nine. They (the syndicate) had Double Winsdor last night who finished third, and they are from Waterford so it's real local.

"I will see how he is before making a plan for him. He was a cheap horse and he is after winning two races now. He is still well-treated on the handicap and if the handicapper isn't too hard on him he might win another one."

B.T. O'Connell, rider of Freedom Square trained by J.R. Barry, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was never travelling before being pulled up in this race.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Freedom Square, trained by J.R. Barry, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

(DM & EM)