Veteran Golden Spear defies advancing years to make delighted Tony Martin's day

Monday: Leopardstown

That big handicap hurdle victory that he probably deserved never quite came the way of Golden Spear, but the 11-year-old showed there is life in him yet with victory in the opportunity handicap hurdle.

Winning for the first time since November 2018, the John Breslin-owned son of Kyllachy had slid to a nice mark, and this was his day.

Liam McKenna hunted him around on the inner just off the pace, came to challenge at the last but he was stopped in his run halfway up the run-in. To recover as he did, getting up in the shadow of the post to touch off Na Caith Tobac by a head, was a very creditable performance.

Tony Martin has enjoyed a real upswing in his fortunes this year, but to see this stable stalwart winning again left him tickled pink. He said: "What a little horse! He deserved that. It's a few years since he won at Down Royal but he's always been consistent and running well. The handicapper had to give him a chance and fair play to him, he did."

He added: "He's been around a long time, running in good races, and age and everything caught up with him. Liam was excellent on him. Just getting stopped after the last probably helped him as he had that little surge to give. He's such an honest little fellow."

Mullins settles for four

Willie Mullins ended the season at Leopardstown in the same dominant form he started it with a 9-1 four-timer.

Paul Townend scored in the opening division of the 2m maiden hurdle on Brooklynn Glory and completed a double when the frustrating Mt Leinster found an opportunity he could not spurn when running out an easy 2-11 winner of the beginners' chase.

The biggest-priced winner of the four was the Jack Foley-ridden Glengouly at 5-2 in the auction novice hurdle, while the most significant may well have been 8-13 shot Rath Gaul Boy, who saw off a decent looking field under Patrick Mullins in the bumper.

The champion trainer commented: "That was a nice performance. I didn't think he had that much speed given his pedigree, but he has more than he is bred for. He's a fabulous jumper and he'll go hurdling next season."

First for Walsh

It was a day to remember for Cian Walsh, who rode his first winner on the track when bringing the diminutive Bronson In Blue from well back in the field to win the 3m handicap hurdle for John McConnell.

The 22-year-old from Kildare said: "I came into the race at the third-last, he was still going well, and when I kicked on he took off. I've been with John for the last six months and he's been very good to me and very supportive."

It was a less memorable race for Denis Hogan, rider and trainer of runner-up Pale Blue Dot, who received a seven-day ban for excessive use of the whip.

Results, replays and analysis

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