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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Ambitious Approach prevails under Manning

Fri 7th Aug 2020, 15:39

Ambitious Approach, white on outer, as the field leave the stallsAmbitious Approach, white on outer, as the field leave the stalls
© Photo Healy Racing

Jim Bolger's Ambitious Approach held on by a head to take the Kevin Egan Cars Handicap in Sligo by a head at 9/1.

Auusie Valentine soon worked his way to the front and dictated throughout this extended 10 furlongs.

The leader came under pressure approaching the straight and relinquished his place to Bashiyr just over a furlong out.

Bashiyr didn't hold the lead for long, though, as Ambitious Approach responded to Kevin Manning's urgings to pick him off inside the final furlong.

He was ridden with 150 yards to race and fended off a surging In From The Cold (6/1).

In a bunch finish, 9/4 favourite Mr Mooj was a head away in third, the same distance in front of Multamis

Winning jockey Kevin Manning said: "He'd a very good run at Navan his first start back, just got touched off and stepped up two furlongs was a big help today.

"It's very slippy around the bend." Ideal Pal took a stumble on the bend passing the winning post the first time and unseated Donagh O'Connor. After the race, a further three horses slipped up and parted company with their jockeys at this part of the track, leading to an inspection of the ground. The rest of the card was then abandoned in the interests of safety.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan

1st
9/1
Tote €7.60 €1.50
2nd
nk
6/1
€2.10
3rd
hd
9/4Fav
€1.40
4th
hd
16/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.