Athenry springs a surprise for Gorman

Athenry Boy was the second reserve in-a-row to strike at Galway, as he sprang a 20/1 surprise in the Terry Cunningham Memorial Handicap.

Without a win in his previous twenty-two starts, the son of Excellent Art opened on-course at 25s, before going off at 20s.

Settled in second by Wayne Lordan, he improved to lead over three furlongs out. He was ridden and joined early in the straight, but battled back gamely in the closing stages to score by half a length. Detailed (5/1 joint-favourite) wasn't helped by the loose horse, and she finished a somewhat unlucky second under Seamie Heffernan for Joseph O'Brien.

The other joint-favourite was Tudor City He loomed alongside the winner early in the straight, but ultimately faded to finish third, another half a length back for Colin Keane and Tony Martin. Usa (12s to 8s) completed the placings three lengths away in fourth for Daniel Redmond and Stephen Mahon.

Jim Gorman said afterwards: "He's been unlucky on a number of occasions and has been second and third a few times. I'm delighted for his owner Paddy Reilly. He's been here all week but as he was only second reserve he went back to Dublin to go to the match (in Croke Park).

"Wayne did well from the draw to get him up there and gave him a great ride. He battled really well."

Lordan added: "He pricked his ears on the bend when he was on his own. When the horse arrived on his outside it actually helped me. If I was left on my own he might have pulled up a little bit.

"It's always a plus to be on the rail. We have fresh ground today, it's soft, but he is horse that runs pretty well around here, he enjoys the track and it's grand to get one up for the week anyway.

"I was beaten a head by a reserve and I was giving out that he got in, but now I won on a reserve so I can't complain!

"Jim is a lovely man, he tries hard. This game is not easy but he always puts his head down and tries, so I'm delighted to get a winner for him here."

STEWARDS REPORTS

J.A. Heffernan, rider of Detailed, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that he was forced to check his mount in the closing stages when a loose horse carried him wide.

The Stewards enquired into an incident rounding the bend past the stands involving Dalton Highway ridden by P.J. Smullen, Nearly Famous (GB), ridden by T.P. Madden, Repare Mon, ridden by C.D. Hayes, and Boom Or Bush ridden by D.E. Sheehy, where it appeared Boom Or Bush struck the running rail, unseating the rider. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that the incident was accidental and took no further action .

Additional reporting by Alan Magee