Duke on the mark at Leopardstown again

On her first start since October, and having her initial introduction to handicap company, Vocal Heir proved up to the task off bottom-weight with Rory Cleary up in 'The Hot Sprockets'-titled 50 to 75 event at Leopardstown.

From around 9/1 this morning into 100/30, the gambled-on Oddysey gave it a good go from the front, but the Jackie Bolger-owned home-bred got there to lead from over fifty yards out.

Vocal Heir then held the strong-finishing favourite, Shabra Emperor by a head, with three parts of a length to the aforementioned Oddysey in third.

"She ran very well in Galway last year on fast ground and she was probably very weak," said winning trainer Brendan Duke.

"I gave her a break over the winter but she never did a stroke. Jim (Bolger) told me 30 years ago that holidays were bad for you and she obviously took that on board.

"When we started riding her out again she improved every day. We'll never need a star to hang above her door but she'll win again and I'm happy with that.

"She loves Galway, and I love Galway, but before that she could very well make her way down to Gowran on Sunday.

"She was ready to go and win but will come on plenty from that also. She's a half-sister to Punch Bag and I could see her jumping a hurdle."

(GC & EM)