Lee leads in championship cliffhanger

Bill Lee today moved one ahead (89-88) of Colin Keane in this season's Jockeys Championship cliffhanger, by winning the Curragh's opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on the David Geary trained Nightcliff (11/2).

Having her first run since June, Lee was at this patient best on Nighcliff, pressing 'go' at the furlong marker as the daughter of Territories beat newcomer Azazat by half a length.

From today, just five meetings remain until the end of the flat season at Naas on November 6, with Lee suspended for the final two meetings.

Regarding Nightcliff, Clarina, County Limerick based Geary said “I was very concerned about the ground being heavy as her form was on good to firm. The fresh strip of ground made up our mind to run her.

“She missed a lot of the season with a splint and we’ll put her away now and start back next season. She’s a big filly, has filled into her frame since June and hopefully there will be a bit more to come from her next year.

“Her owner (Stacey Fitzgibbon) enjoys racing and we’ll probably hang onto her.”

Having his first winner since Getawiggleon in June 2020, he added “she was bought in Goffs as a yearling and she is the only one we have in training. Hopefully we might find another one along the way again.”

Quotes from Alan Magee