Michael Graham
Beau Satchel knows where the Galway line is
Beau Satchel, yellow, just pips Cairdiuil in Galway
© Photo Healy Racing
Beau Satchel thundered home to nail Cairdiuil on the line at the end of seven furlongs in the Caulfield Industrial Athlone Handicap at Galway.
The five-year-old gelding was drawn 14 of the 16 runners so Gary Halpin had little choice but to drop in and suffer towards the back of the field. With three furlongs left, the pair only had four horses behind them.
It was Cairdiuil who went for home on the outside with just over a furlong to go. Halpin got a run through on the inner as he guided Beau Satchel into seventh coming to the final 150 yards.
Cairdiuil was battling away at the front under Jack Kennedy but Beau Satchel devoured the ground in the closing stages and knifed through to grab the win by a head at 10/1. This was his second success over course and distance.
Cairdiuil (7/1 from 10s in the morning) had to settle for the runner-up berth while bottom-weight War Anthem (20/1) and top-weight Beat The Ballot (12/1) completed the placings in third and fourth.
Successful trainer Adrian McGuinness said: "He's in again on Sunday and will probably run again. I was in two minds about running tonight, and because of that Declan (McDonogh) rode the other horse (Oor Jock) and I feel sorry for him missing out.
"Gary gave him a great spin. He got all the breaks and I told him to take his time."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee