Barrow takes home Pierse chase
Sunday, 14 January 2007 16:17Timmy Murphy gave Irish Grand National winner Point Barrow a masterful ride to claim the Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase.
Hindered by the welter burden of 11st 10lb in heavy ground, Murphy coaxed and cajoled the nine-year-old into contention on the final circuit.
Last year's winner A New Story (9-1) looked to have the field covered when Andrew McNamara cruised into the lead along the home straight - but he had no answer to Pat Hughes' 14-1 winner.
Three-quarters of a length was the difference between the pair at the line, with Charlie Swan's Teeming Rain (16-1) and Ted Walsh's Jack High (25-1) finishing third and fourth respectively.
The winner was given a quote of 20-1 from 33-1 for the John Smith's Grand National by VC Bet, William Hill and bet365.
'Ten days ago I wanted to pull him out but a couple of days later he was a different horse," said Hughes.
'He ran really well in a hurdle race at Navan and then he was hampered in the Paddy Power Chase (at Leopardstown).
'I had him in better form than in the Irish National and he has beaten the same horses again.
'I think he will run next in a hurdle before either the English or the Irish National.'
