Youlneverwalkalone wins Pierse Handicap

Youlneverwalkalone just got the better of top weight Foxchapel King to land this afternoon’s Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase.

The start of the Leopardstown contest was delayed for 13 minutes due to smoke from a nearby fire blowing across the track which resulted in one of the fences being dolled off.

But once under way it was Precious Music who set the early gallop with Foxchapel King and Youlneverwalkalone racing in touch.

As the pace increased going down the far side for the final time Precious Music began to cry enough and six out Foxchapel King jumped to the front but Barry Geraghty on Youlneverwalkalone had the move covered and soon had the 7-2 chance on the heels of the leader.

Eskimo Jack, the 5-2 favourite, flattered briefly at the penultimate fence but it was soon left to Foxchapel King and Youlneverwalkalone to fight out the finish.

Making the most of the 23lb he was receiving from Mouse Morris’s tough stayer, Youlneverwalkalone got his nose in front halfway up the run-in and responding gamely to Geraghty's urgings held off his rival by a length to claim the winner’s purse of €65,000 for owner JP McManus and trainer Christy Roche.

Eskimo Jack was three and a half lengths back in third.