71/1 Navan brace for Billy Lee

The Bellinter Handicap at Navan saw Billy Lee double his score on the day, bringing home Amazon Lady a winner for owner/breeder Madeline Burns and trainer Willie McCreery.

Lee was successful in the opener for Andy Oliver on Sounds Like A Plan and here in another sprint he got Amazon Lady (11/1) across the line with half a length to spare over Harry's Hill

"She's probably three weeks in foal now to New Bay, so that helped her," explained McCreery.

"I've never seen her as relaxed, she looked fantastic and is thriving this year. She's a big mare and just took her time to come to hand.

"I just wanted to get a win into her to pay for her entries for the year. The Burns' have no interest in handicaps, they just want to get black-type for her.

"The handicapper dropped her a few pounds, so I said to try and get a handicap to pay for her entries because she might have to go to England.

"I think she loves that quicker ground, she skipped along and was in a lovely rhythm the whole way."

Amazon Lady was sporting a visor here, in place of the cheek-pieces she had on last time.

J.A. Powell, rider of Buddy Batt trained by D.J. Bunyan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right when off the bridle.

The Raceday Stewards reviewed an incident approximately one furlong from the winning post, where it appeared that Jon Riggens ridden by B.M. Coen, switched left off the heels of Buddy Batt who was hanging and slightly bumped Pro Bono Alexander ridden by M.W Hassett. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the matter, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that no further action was warranted.

(MG & EM)