Big Island tastes victory for first time

John Feane's Big Island (13/2) left his rivals beached as he took the honours in the Tipperary Handicap over an extended seven furlongs.

He raced at the head of affairs Phantom Power before moving into the sole lead with over a quarter of a mile to negotiate.

The son of Canford Cliffs was ridden to go and win his race heading to the final furlong. Galactic Grey (18/1) finished strongly down the outside but was still half a length in arrears at the line. Khafaaq completed the placings a length and a half further back in third at 11/2.

Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, fresh off a winner in the Racing League at Doncaster yesterday, said: “I got a handy lead in front I thought. I was able to stack them up and he picked up off the bend.

“When Gary (Carroll, on Galactic Grey) came to me, he kept pulling it out of the bag. He was always doing enough and stayed at it well.

“He seemed to really like the little bit of soft ground. On his last few starts, when they quickened up by him on good ground, he seemed to just fade away but on that ground they didn’t really get to me.”

Big Island got off the mark at the 10th time of asking.

The Stewards enquired into an incident about two hundred yards from the finish involving El Padre (USA), ridden by J.A. Heffernan, unplaced and Lord Mczie ridden by P.A. Harnett, placed fifth, where it appeared that Lord Mczie continued to move inwards and El Padre (USA) checked. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence J.A. Heffernan stated that he thought he might get sixth place but was not going forward when he received a brush from Lord Mczie. P.A. Harnett stated that he was going easy into the straight and had nowhere to go when a gap appeared on his inner. He applied the whip but his mount went left into the path of El Padre (USA). Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that P.A. Harnett had caused the incident by riding carelessly, this being a breach of Rule 214. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended P.A. Harnett for one raceday.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee