Condon double as Harold excites

Ken Condon brought up a double at odds of just over 40/1 when the Billy Lee ridden Harold Peto landed a gamble in the Win A Ski Holiday Racecard Competition Median Auction Maiden at Navan.

Shane Foley rode Condon's earlier winner, In Salutem and however surprising that one's success was, after an ordinary effort at Dundalk on Friday night, Harold Peto's win was altogether more expected.

He performed with credit on his debut when sixth over the course and distance a fortnight back and today was backed from around 8/1 this morning into 11/4.

The Vale Of York gelding soon led under Lee and he asked the two-year-old to assert a furlong out. He went on to account for Avenante and favourite Steip Amach by a length and a half and two lengths.

"I'm very happy with that. He had a nice first run here two weeks ago," said Condon.

"He was bred by a good man in Denis McDonnell, down in Cork, which is a good start, and some of his siblings are smart.

"He'll get a mile and a quarter next year and hopefully he'll be a stakes horse. He's very uncomplicated, very sound and he breathes very well.

"He's a very straight-forward galloper and still quite raw and babyish. He's a big horse at 16.2 and has a lot to fill into over the winter.

"He's in the Eyrefield Stakes on Sunday and we'll see how he comes out of this. We have until Friday.

"If he doesn't run on Sunday he could start off next year in something like the Ballysax. We have a lot to look forward to next year and there is more to come."

P.J. Smullen, rider of Whitehaven Bay (GB), trained by Ms. Sheila Lavery, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount ran short of room for a number of strides approximately a furlong from home.

L.F. Roche, rider of Lake Geneva trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount suffered some accidental interference about 1 furlong from home.

(GC & EM)