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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Harrington and Foley Building Bridges in Navan

Sat 1st Jun 2019, 14:01

Building Bridges gets up on the outsideBuilding Bridges gets up on the outside
© Photo Healy Racing

Building Bridges was off the bridle a good way from home but finished strongest of all in the mile and five maiden at Navan.

He was asked for more over three furlongs out and looked in trouble when he was ridden in third in pursuit of the leaders with more than a quarter of a mile to negotiate. Macquarie and Metier appeared to have the race between them as they slugged it out in front, however, Building Bridges really found his straps in the final furlong and mowed them down to hit the front inside the final 100 yards.

Shane Foley 's mount was well supported from 3/1 to 2/1 joint favourite. Hasankey (10/1) also finished well to chase him home by a length and a half. Macquarie (16/1) came in third, a further length away.

Trainer Jessica Harrington said: "He sort of makes it hard work for himself as he travels on and off.

“He's been like that in all his races. Shane thought four furlongs out that he was never going to get there and then he ends up winning a length-and-a-half. He actually makes it look easy in the end.

“Basically he probably wants up to a mile-and-six and a good galloping track. I don't think ground is any issue.

“He might have made it easier for himself today if he hadn't stumbled coming out of the stalls. He got caught very wide on the first bend.

“He is what he is. He's won his maiden now, thank God, and we'll go from there.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
2/1JFav
Tote €2.80 €1.20
2nd
1.5L
10/1
€3.00
3rd
1L
16/1
€4.80
4th
0.5L
12/1
bf
4.75L
2/1JFav
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.