Coin Of Courage shows improvement

From last to first, that’s the story with Coin Of Courage He was last of seven behind Macbeth at Gowran Park on 12th April, but first of 18 runners today at Navan.

Billy Lee was on board the Tommy Stack-trained colt in the three-year-old maiden over a mile. He sent to him to the front and kept enough in reserve to repel 15/8 favourite Qasser who travelled strongly up until a furlong out.

There was a neck in it at the finish with a head further back was the eyecatching Firethorn – on debut for Andrew Oliver and Chris Hayes – who stayed on very strongly at 25/1.

Another eyecatcher was One Fine Day making his first start for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley, who made rapid headway in the final furlong to take fourth at 33/1.

Fozzy Stack, representing his father Tommy, said: “Coin Of Courage ran OK last year [tenth of 19 to Thomasgainsborough on 30th October at Leopardstown] but he was very disappointing when we put him up to a mile and a half this year. Being by Dylan Thomas I had thought he would stay.

“Billy got him relaxed in front and he toughed it out to the line. He’s got a nasty little cut on his off hind. Hopefully he’ll be OK.”

Michael Graham