One of just two previous winners in open company, Templebredin confirmed himself to be an ultra-tough performer when battling from the front to land to the Rathronan Maiden Hunter Chase at Clonmel on Tuesday.
Pa King’s mount, who was one of a pair of runners in the race for the Sam Curling yard, entered the race following a defeat of the Trevor Hemmings-owned Warriors Tale at Boulta in November, and he made much of the running, racing alongside the Stradbally runner-up Dento Des Obeaux throughout.
As that grey began to fade entering the home straight, it was the more patiently ridden Saint Benedict and Thedancingfarrier who arrived on the scene as potential dangers, and it proved to be the former that provided the greatest of challenges.
As the testing conditions began to really take its toll, the 5/4 favourite Templebredin dug deep from the penultimate fence, however all that could have been undone as he got into the bottom of the last, which has seemed to hand the advantage to Harry Swan’s mount, however the Mainstown fifth was out-battled on the run-in by the Mary Teresa O’Brien-owned seven-year-old who ultimately got the call by a head.
The ten-year-old mare Shuil Luas kept on in her customary fashion in the conditions to take third under Liz Lalor, some five and a half lengths behind the front pair, with a further nine lengths back to Thedancingfarrier who weakened from the penultimate fence.
Following the success, winning handler Sam Curling put forward next month's Hunter Chase at Thurles for his winning favourite.
Following the success, winning handler Sam Curling put forward next month's Hunter Chase at Thurles for his winning favourite.
