The Gortroe Racing Club in full cry © Photo Healy Racing
King Ferdinand (11/2) was all out to hold on in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase at Tipperary, but hold on he did for Eoin Walsh and Eugene O'Sullivan.
There was a whole host of horses in with a shout over two out where King Ferdinand led narrowly. He increased his margin and jumped the last like a stag which helped him hold on as he was crying out for the line close home in this extended two mile seven race. Room To Roam (14/1) closed to within a neck at the line, just a nose in front of Shantou Sisu also at 14/1.
The winner was roared home by a good representation from the Gortroe Racing Club with their 'Come on the King' banner.
O'Sullivan said: "We have this race picked out since the last day and, if this didn't work, we were going to go to Killarney. We'd like to find a race in Galway, but he might struggle to get in so we might have to go for a different race in Killarney to qualify him.
"He is a brilliant jumper and he actually jumped the last with a circuit-to-go almost dangerously and was outside the wings. He idled on the run-in."
He added: "I said to the owners that if they ever wanted to go to Cheltenham, they can go in October with this fella for an amateur chase. It is one of the few races we can afford to go to and will be qualified with a lowly weight now.
"There are 21 officially in the syndicate but there are partners involved and they're on the look out for a second horse."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
