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- Lee fires in a double through Oskar High
Michael Graham
Lee fires in a double through Oskar High
Oskar High leads them into the straight
© Photo Healy Racing
Oskar High reeled in clear leader Kilashee before fending off Watch The Weather on the run-in of the extended two mile five furlong handicap hurdle in Ballinrobe.
Kilashee raced well clear, but Shane O'Callaghan got after Oskar High in second between the final two flights.
The pair made relentless progress to join Kilashee at the last and led narrowly on the run-in. The danger, however, was Watch The Weather who improved into second straightening for home.
Oskar High found plenty for O'Callaghan in the final furlong, though, and was always holding the challenger.
The winner prevailed by a length and a quarter at 11/8 and gave trainer Norman Lee a double after She Is Electric took the preceding race. Runner-up Watch The Weather went off at 7/2 and was eight lengths clear of Krabat (14/1).
Lee said: "We minded him well at home and he didn't do anything all year, but we brought him to the beach and looked after him and he did it great here this evening. He's a tough horse.
"We took a chance that there was enough ease in the ground and there was, just about. He battled it out great, he outstayed them.
"The horses are in real good order and it's been a great evening. That's our seventh winner of the season."
"Any small trainer who does his job right can take on the biggest yards in Ireland. Give us the ammunition and we'll do the job."
Oskar High won decisively at Galway on Monday and ran under the 7lb penalty. He also landed this race last year.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan