Bolger & Manning win flat finale

Trainer Jim Bolger and stable jockey and son-in-law Kevin Manning won the concluding race of the 2016 Irish flat season, the Tote Maiden at Leopardstown today, with Escondida which formed the second leg of a double for the pair.

Bolger and Manning earlier combined to win the Listed Eyrefield Stakes with maiden Dubai Sand and Escondida’s win was similarly unorthodox, as he overcame an absence of 13 months to spring a 25/1 upset over 40/1 chance Duchess Of France

Following the win Bolger, finishing with 57 winners for the season and a third place finish in the Trainers’ Championship, stated “he was a long time off and I was hoping he wouldn’t blow up when he hit the front. This has been a lucky race for us.”

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson