Archie Meade lands gamble

Archie Meade landed a gamble when holding on from Doctor Deejay in the two and a half mile Kennedy’s Bar Hurdle at Sligo.

The seven-year-old trained by Malachy Hassett in Co Clare was punted from 9/2 to 5/2 in the morning and was returned at 2/1.

The seven pound rise in the weights he received for winning a valuable three mile handicap at Fairyhouse in April wasn't enough to stop him today.

Danny Howard kicked him on before the home turn and the pair jumped the last just in front of Doctor Deejay (20/1) and Andrew Lynch. Doctor Deejay responded to his jockey’s urgings but was a head down at the winning post.

“I had to make the running to make it a true test and he’s very tough,” winning jockey Danny Howard said.

“I probably wouldn’t be riding only for his owner and the owner of Lough Donnell Mist. They are the reason I have a licence.” Awkward Moment was another well supported horse (morning price 9/2 to 11/4 SP) and he brought home the each way money in third, seven lengths away from the battle for first place. Pickapocketortwo the uneasy 15/8 favourite, fell at the sixth and brought down Mcswynes Bay Patrick Mullins who rode the favourite received treatment at the scene, but was able to walk away while Ben Dalton was up quickly from the incident.

Michael Graham