Lawlor’s Choice had bounced back to form when going close at Borris House recently, however she took a further step forward when running out a 50/1 winner of the Bluegrass Fastrack Hunter Chase at Down Royal on St. Patrick’s Day.
Sent off as the outsider of the five-strong field, Tiernan Power rode the eight-year-old with patient tactics as she raced in fourth for much of the contest, improving into third early in the home straight.
Coming to tackle and overhaul her more fancied rivals Ask D’Man and Er Dancer at the next fence, she kicked on from this point before being strongly pressed in the closing stages as Ask D’Man in particular, a four-time point winner, began to close.
However the line came in time for Lawlor’s Choice as she prevailed by a neck in the colours of her long-standing owners Tom Power and Annette Lawlor.
The short-priced favourite Er Dancer kept on to take third.
Victory for Lawlor’s Choice was a second win of her career and first since she had landed her maiden at Tinahely in February 2020, the track was is parallel to winning trainer Philip Rothwell’s gallop.
“The plan was to finish as close as we could, and she couldn't have finished any closer!” Power told IrishRacing.com
“She was game as she was a little bit flat out down at the bottom, so I just took my time and let her fill her for as long as I could.
"Her jumping was so good it took her into it the whole way and she was good up over the last three. Jumping won it for her.”
