Leading Light lands huge gamble

With Joseph O’Brien riding at Longchamp, Kevin Manning came in for a rare ride for Aidan O’Brien and got Leading Light home after being hard at work a long way out in the one mile one furlong juvenile maiden at Tipperary.

The money certainly came for the O’Brien first string as he was backed in to even money favouritism from 7/2 on course having been as big as 7/1 in the morning, but he looked well beaten three furlongs out as Manning scrubbed him along in mid division.

It was only in the final furlong that Leading Light’s stamina came in to play and he collared Silky Pyrus and Janna’s Jingle to win by a length and a half.

Silky Pyrus took second for John Walsh and Ben Curtis at 20/1 while Janna’s Jingle completed the placings at 11/2 for Pat Shanahan and Ronan Whelan.

Successful jockey Kevin Manning said: “I rode the Gallinule Stakes winner some years ago for Aidan [Yohan Cruyff in 1997].

“Leading Light wasn’t enjoying that ground as it is bottomless, but I knew turning in that I would pick them up.”

This was Leading Light's second race. On debut the son of Montjeu finished fourth at the Galway Festival in an extended mile maiden.

The winning silks were the Camelot colours which could be an omen for the Arc later on today.

(On course reporting by Thomas Weekes)