Last to first win for Wajaaha as Browne McMonagle doubles-up

Wajaaha (9/4f from 11/4) completed a double for Dylan Browne McMonagle, as he came from last to first in the second divide of the Joe Wall 75th Birthday Celebration Apprentice Handicap.

Trained by Charles Byrnes, the New Approach bay won a selling hurdle at Plumpton last month, adding to his three previous wins from 2020.

Slow from the stalls, the seven-year-old raced in rear and was still last entering the straight. Soon ridden on the wide outside, he gradually picked off his rivals and got to the front inside the final 150 yards, going on to prevail by a half-a-length.

.Lariat (12/1) filled the runner-up spot under Adam Caffrey for Adrian McGuinness, while Sheila (33/1) was another half-a-length back in third.

"It wasn't ideal now when he stood in the gates for that long giving away plenty of ground," the winning rider, who was successful earlier on Excesso Velocidad said.

"I would have liked to have been sitting box seat (from stall one) on him, but it went out the window fairly soon. We went steady up the straight and gave me a bit of time to catch them.

"It wasn't a bad thing after all (the start) - getting plenty of cover on him and riding him with a bit of patience and filling him with confidence definitely helped.

"Once I got onto their tails, he travelled around good. He had a good run the last day in England, he won well, so he has obviously bounced back to form.

"The visor (first time) sharpened him up plenty, definitely, and he was a good winner at the line."

STEWARDS REPORTS

D. McMonagle, rider of Wajaaha trained by C.Byrnes, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away.

R. Whearty, rider of Innamorare trained by Gavin Cromwell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran on to heels in the home straight.

Additional reporting by Michael Graham