Top Notch win in Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase
Mister Top Notch put up an outstanding weight-carrying performance to win the valuable Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase.
Davy Fitzgerald’s nine-year-old was burdened with top weight of 11st 10lb, but was always travelling sweetly for Conor O’Dwyer and found plenty for pressure close home.
Sent off at 14-1, Mister Top Notch saw off the Arthur Moore-trained King Johns Castle (9-1) by a length and a quarter, with the runner-up’s stablemate and 7-2 favourite Notable D’Estruval back in third.
The result capped a memorable weekend for O’Dwyer, who saddled his first winner as a trainer when Hangover struck at Punchestown on Saturday.
“The riding is easier!” joked the rider on the way back to the winner’s circle.
“It’s heavy ground out there but it was loose enough where I went out wide on him.
“He was super and he jumped great and has a bit of class about him,” he told At The Races.
