Fortuitous Florrie’s Boy gets off the mark over fences

FLORRIE’S BOY, trained by Eamonn ‘Dusty’ Sheehy for the Butler Family Syndicate, proved a fortunate winner of the Gain Horsefeeds Novice Chase at Clonmel last night.

The eight-year-old, ridden by Tom Doyle, was tackled by Spes Ultima turning for home and the pair were involved in a tremendous tussle when odds-on favourite Arklow Ger loomed large between the last two fences.

The 4/7 shot looked sure to triumph under Paddy Flood, deputising for Davy Russell (who had been stood down for 24 hours after a fall from Arcadia Boy in the opening maiden hurdle) , but took a crashing fall at the final fence. Battle was rejoined by the other pair, with Doyle driving 14/1 Florrie’s Boy clear to triumph by two lengths, his first success over fences at his ninth attempt.