Son Of Westerner Takes Valuable Feature Chase

Westerner Point (9g Westerner - Its Only Gossip, by Lear Fan) captured the valuable Grade B feature Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick on Thursday.

The winner of this race two years ago, he was once again ridden by Philip Enright, now bearing the second highest weight of the 16 runner field. Ridden to track the leaders for much of the two and a half mile contest, he came under pressure in the straight and made good progress to lead at the final fence. Staying on well, he won by two and a half lengths.

"He stayed great to the line and he jumped great. It depends on the ground, but I have an eye on the Topham Trophy at Aintree in the spring. He ran over the National fences there last year in the Becher Chase and he jumped those fences very well.” trainer Eoghan O'Grady.

This was a tenth career victory for the Thade Quill Syndicate-owned bay, who was bred by R and Mrs H Gallagher.