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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Now Or Never too good in Ballybrit

Tue 28th Jul 2015, 18:54

Now Or Never in the clear at GalwayNow Or Never in the clear at Galway
© Photo Healy Racing

Now Or Never (6/1) put in a very polished display to make all and come home by five and a half lengths in the seven furlong juvenile fillies' maiden at Galway.

She was situated in stall one and made full use of it by breaking away well to grab the lead on the rail.

Dermot Weld 's 13/8 favourite Simannka soon raced in second as she attempted to give the Rosewell House trainer a sixth winner in the last 10 runnings of this contest.

At the two pole Now Or Never began to increase her lead as Pat Smullen asked Simannka for more.

There was no catching Now Or Never though as she moved clear with a furlong to race and kept up the gallop for a wide-margin victory.

Simannka held on to second by a nose from 33/1 shot Nodiac who was making her debut.

Handler Michael O'Callaghan said: "A very nice filly. We always liked her, liked her a lot. She doesn't do much at home. She's very laid-back. She has a lot of good entries - she's entered in the Moyglare and the Debutante. She couldn't have won any easier.

"She's very well-related. She's out of a sister to Dream Ahead and she is just short of 16 hands high. I knew it was a good sign when we bought her and the vendor wanted to stay in her. They thought she was a nice filly themselves.

"We are delighted to get a winner at Galway and for her to win in such style is great. The only thing I was worried about was would she handle the track running downhill but she broke very smart.

"She had a lovely draw and Emmet gave her a lovely ride. She's a very, very smart filly. She has a lot of class this filly and we don't know how good she is because she is so laid-back at home. She has such a great temperament. This was the certainty!

"She appreciated a bit of juice in the ground as she's big, and anything she does this year will be a bonus. She travelled well, and stays seven furlongs in Galway, so a mile should be no problem."

Emmet McNamara added: "Shane (Kelly) gave her a lovely introduction the first day in Fairyhouse and it put her spot on for today. We had the draw and she was able to jump out and make all with that experience under her belt.

"Michael in fairness had her absolutely spot on for today. She looked a picture out in the paddock. When Michael turns round to you and tells you one will run well it invariably does. He's an ambitious trainer and he's a young trainer going places and I'm delighted to get an opportunity to ride a winner for him at a Festival such as Galway, it's brilliant."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
6/1
Tote €7.50 €2.00
2nd
5.5L
13/8Fav
€1.30
3rd
nose
33/1
€5.50
4th
3.5L
4/1
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.