Fragile Monksland back in winners enclosure

Monksland got back to winning ways in the featured He’llberemembered Hurdle at Thurles but those who supported the 8/11 favourite had a few anxious moments before collecting. Polar Present had the field stretched about half a mile out under Donagh Meyler, and Sean Flanagan needed to get to work on the favourite just to move into second place approaching the penultimate flight.

However Noel Meade’s charge gradually wore down the leader and, despite a slight mistake at the final hurdle, was driven out on the run-in to prevail by half a length.

The pair drew ten lengths clear of Notwhatiam in third.

Now 10, three-time Grade 2 winner Monksland lands the feature He'llberemembered Hurdle at @thurlesraces under @swflanagan7 for @tuvastables: pic.twitter.com/J9olhzIPeB

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2017

Flanagan was completing a double on the day having also partnered La Bella Vida to take the opening mares’ beginners chase.

Meade said, "It was hard work and Sean said he never travelled at all and the ground was a bit quick for him.

"He has had plenty problems over the years and when the ground is any way good, he was knocking the top off it and needs soft ground to be at his best. He is a ten-year-old now and has been around a while, and that is part of it too but today was the plan.

"His pedigree is all stamina and he does stay three miles. I don't know where he is going to go and you couldn't say he is the horse he once was but we'll peg along and try and keep him sound and run him wherever he has a chance.

"I would say at some stage we could try him over fences in one of those big races like the Irish National. There might also be a conditions chase he could run into as well.

"We'll see how the season goes along but every race we win with him is a bonus as he hasn't been easy to keep sound."

(TW & AM)