Cocoon & Ernest share the spoils

Cocoon and Ernest Shackleton had to share the spoils in the feature at Listowel this afternoon, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.

Cocoon, for Aidan and Ana O’Brien, was prominent throughout and was ridden to the front from the two furlong pole.

Ernest Shackleton, for Niall McCullagh and Jessica Harrington, was also prominent, coming under pressure in third over two furlongs out.

He flew home inside the final furlong and just got up to join Cocoon on the line.

Cocoon, who was 7/1 this morning, was returned a 4/1 chance while Ernest Shackleton, who was 11/2 overnight, was 7/2. Rule The Waves proved a very easy to back 2/1 favourite (was 5/4 this morning) and he finished fourth under Joseph O’Brien.

Ernest Shackleton is owned by Kate Harrington and she said afterwards: “He is lazy, but he will get further and he is a nice horse for the future. He might be sold.

"Niall said that he wasn’t really travelling down the back and he actually probably wants a bit more of a galloping track.

"He was tiny when he came to us in January and he is the first foal out of the mare. My last ever conversation with Dad was just before I went out to ride him at home."

Niall McCullagh said: "I actually thought it was going to be a dead-heated."

Ana O’Brien remarked: “I knew Niall was coming at me but I’m glad I held on."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes