Easy for Giving as she justifies late support

In The Giving was yet another to make all at Sligo this evening, as she made the breakthrough in the Guinness Nursery Handicap.

The Fozzy Stack trained chestnut had shown very little on her first three starts in maidens, beating just four horses home, but still came in for some late market support.

Available at 12/1 in early shows, she went off at just 13/2 under Andrew Slattery on what was her first time encounter soft ground.

Pushed along approaching the straight, she was ridden and went clear from the furlong pole, going on to score easily by three-and-a-quarter lengths. Camilla Gherardini (from 11/2) and Static Charge were the 9/2 joint-favourites and they finished second and third respectively, with a neck separating them at the line.

"It was the plan to get out in front," Slattery revealed.

"When I spoke to Fozzy earlier we were fairly adamant that there wasn't too much coming from behind, and she loved it.

"She surprised me a little bit, but I suppose when you're in against horses of that grade they can all compete at their own level and it makes the difference.

"I couldn't believe how easy I got it in front and I always seemed to be in control of the race.

"She'd only run on good ground and never really took to it. She's out of a Tiger Hill mare and maybe that's where the liking for soft ground is coming from.

"I think she really enjoyed the ground but she has plenty of boot as well which suits for around here."

STEWARDS REPORTS

W.J. Lee, rider of Ooh La Belle trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount stopped very quickly.

L.T. McAteer, rider of Camilla Gherardini trained by James M. Barrett, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got bumped on leaving the starting stalls.

The Stewards requested a report from J.A.Stack, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of In The Giving, placed first, as compared with its recent runs at the Curragh and Fairyhouse. Sean Hennessy, Authorised representative of J.A. Stack, reported that their charge was allowed to dictate the pace today and appreciated the ease in the underfoot conditions, which in his opinion were contributing factors to the improved performance. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan