Improving Lion makes it two in-a-row

Winter Lion followed up on his win at the Galway Festival as he took the seamusweldon.com Handicap under Chris Hayes for Denis Hogan.

The four-year-old son of Galileo was getting off the mark on his tenth career start at Ballybrit and he was sent off a 5/1 chance (was 7’s this morning and from 6’s on-course) to make it two in-a-row this evening.

Having lead in the early stages he was soon relegated to second as Too Straight went on.

He regained the lead as they rounded the bottom bend and he was soon ridden, keeping on well under pressure in the home straight to score by two lengths.

The Jessica Harrington trained Modem was the gamble of the race and he finished second under Shane Foley.

The four-year-old gelding opened at 20’s this morning but that price was soon gone, starting on-course at just 7’s before going off a 6/1 chance. Wrap Star (11/1) kept on well to complete the placings a further length and three parts back in third under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx, while the 7/2 favourite Knight’s Parade could only manage seventh under Connor King for Gordon Elliott.

Denis Hogan, who was recording his second success of the Killarney August Festival, said afterwards: "He is an improving horse. I was a bit worried about the track coming from Galway as it is totally different but he has definitely sharpened up a lot.

"There is a few nice handicaps for him in the autumn. Chris judged the fractions well and he is riding really well at the moment."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee