Racing:Coolgreaney gained a hard-fought victory in an eventful renewal of the Woodlands Park 100 Club Poplar Square Chase at Naas.
Sent off at 8-1 on her hat-trick mission, the Sean Treacy-trained mare was never far from 4-6 favourite and eventual runner-up Gemini Lucy, who wasted no time in adopting her customary front-running role.
There was drama soon after the closely-packed field of four turned for home, as Carthalawn slipped up on the bend in the hands of Davy Russell.
Gemini Lucy was still in front at this point but Coolgreaney was travelling supremely well for Tom Doyle.
Despite not taking the last as fluently as Doyle might have
wished, the
improving six-year-old found plenty for pressure and edged
past Gemini Lucy inside the final 100 yards to win by a length and
a quarter.
Treacy said: "It's better to be born lucky than rich. Carthalawn was going well when he slipped up but you never really know what would have happened.
"The two mares have fought it out and ours really showed her steel today.
"She's won two Graded races now and we'll have to decide whether she goes to the paddocks next year or stays in training.
"We might now go for a Listed Chase for mares at Clonmel in a
few weeks
time."
Carthalawn and Russell both appeared none the worse for their mishap on the home bend.