Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Bondi Beach leads home O'Brien one-two
Michael Graham
Bondi Beach leads home O'Brien one-two
Bondi Beach, number 3, comes to collar Bantry Bay
© Photo Healy Racing
Bondi Beach got up in the shadow of the post to nail stablemate and odds on favourite Bantry Bay in the mile and a half maiden at Leopardstown.
Unraced Bantry Bay, from Aidan O'Brien's stable, was all the rage with punters being backed from 9/4 to 6/4 this morning and from evens to 10/11 at the track.
He broke well and Joseph O'Brien put him into the lead. At the four pole he was still lobbing away while Master Manipulator was pushed along in second. At this stage Seamie Heffernan raced in fifth on fellow newcomer Bondi Beach on the inner.
Bondi Beach then improved into second over two furlongs out as Joseph O'Brien asked Bantry Bay to go and win the race. He was three lengths clear with a furlong and a half to go, however, Bondi Beach made stealthy headway under hands and heels to cut into the lead in the final furlong. He dropped his head in front on the line to the joy of those who took the 7/1. Barnacle Bill was placed in third at 12/1 on his debut.
Seamie Heffernan said: "They are two nice horses. One is a front-runner and one can't get to the front. I got to the front when I wanted to."
This gave Aidan O'Brien and Heffernan a double on the day as they teamed up with Kissed By Angels in the 1,000 Guineas trial.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee