288/1 brace for Roche as Nebo makes all

Nebo (15/2) broke smartly from stall one and made all in the Open Week At Gowran Park Handicap to give Leigh Roche a quick 288/1 double.

The Kodiac gelding edged clear of his eight rivals racing to the furlong marker and beat Big Baby Bull (8/1) by two and a quarter lengths.

It was a fifth career win for Nebo, a Group 3 winner at two for Charlie Hills who has now won three handicaps for Tom Hogan since relocating to Ireland in 2019.

Roche, successful in the previous contest on Rerouting, said: “Tom (Hogan) rang before I left Kildare and said the horse is better now than before his last few runs and was in great form at home.

"The draw suited him and I was able to bounce out and make the running. A loose horse didn't help him at Galway the last day (finished fifth behind Current Option) and he was entitled to win today.

"He is genuine, tough and tries hard which is a big help when you have one going forward like that."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes