The Lovely Man swoops late for Leinster National honours

The Lovely Man fought hard for victory in the BAR 1 Betting Leinster National Handicap Chase at Naas.

Gavin Cromwell’s 12-1 shot was ridden by Conor Stone-Walsh in the Listed event, with 14 rivals lining up to take on three miles and a furlong.

There was drama at the final fence when the leader, Built By Ballymore, unseated his rider, and it was The Lovely Man who loomed up to challenge and eventually prevail by a head from favourite Goraibhmaithagat.

Stone-Walsh said: “I was under pressure from a good bit out but in fairness to him, he kept going.

“He jumped super the whole way, pecked at one but other than that he was brilliant, and he galloped the whole way to the line.

“When we were going to the last, I could feel him picking up and he finished strong. I was just hoping he’d get there and thankfully he did.”

There was Grade Three action on the card in the BAR 1 Betting “Better Prices On Self-Service Betting Terminals” Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle, where Le Labo came to the fore for Joseph O’Brien.

Ridden by John Gleeson, the 6-1 chance was successful by a neck from the 11-10 favourite, Noel Meade’s Blake.

Gleeson said: “I suppose he’s been a bit unlucky in his two starts.

“He got sandwiched at the first in Thurles and he did everything right, bar a bit of bad luck, the last day in Cork.

“He’s a horse that we’ve always liked. We decided to go here today, with a smaller field, to give him another nice experience and if it happened, it happened. Thankfully it did.

“I was quite happy to follow. I thought the pace was even and the ground is a bit dead.

“He’s a horse with a nice turn of foot and I’d say a nice touch of class as well. I think he’s a horse that’s going to keep improving and he’s one for the future.

“That was a nice start back for him. There are a couple of nice options in the spring for him and he’s a horse that we’ll have a bit of fun with, hopefully.”