Change of strategy reaps dividends with Pepperoni Pete

Jessica Harrington's Pepperoni Pete absolutely spread-eagled the field in the Best Wishes Peter Killeen Handicap at Fairyhouse.

The five-year-old gelding went off 11/2 favourite in this race run in the honour of the Navan racecourse manager who is retiring after a 40-year career in Irish racing.

Shane Foley was on board and had the leaders in sight rounding the home bend. His mount moved strongly on the bridle in the final three furlongs and was given the office over a furlong out.

The response was impressive as he stormed right away from the field in the final furlong to win by a whopping 11 lengths.

The places were occupied by Talking Tough (28/1), Gonna Dancealot (13/2) and Stately Home (25/1) in second, third and fourth respectively.

Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “We’ve done it wrong for the last two years with this lad — the wrong ground and the wrong distance.

“We dropped him back to a mile on heavy ground and he’s absolutely loved it.

“Fair play to his owners who have nursed him back from a bad fall in Gowran last year. He actually broke two vertebrae in his neck and has taken a long time to get back.

“They had him back in pre-training and he seemed to be very happy when he got back riding so they said we’ll run him on the Flat.

“It nearly brings a tear to my eye when you see a horse coming back from injury like that. It shows how much he loves racing. It’s great for him and great for the Blessings who own him.

“He definitely came on from his run in Dundalk. I’d say all our horses will improve for a run and it’s a long old season.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee