Lleyton, at last, passes the post a winner

Jimmy Finn has his horses in fine form and his Lleyton passed the winning post in front for the very first time today, as the gelding registered a second career success in the Waterford & Tramore Supp Club Handicap Hurdle at Tramore.

Finn claimed Lleyton for E6,000 following his runner-up effort in a Dundalk Claimer in October 2017 and while the son of Kalanisi failed to pass the post a winner in 16 previous racecourse outings, was awarded a race at Downpatrick on August 27.

On that day Lleyton finished second to Muroor in a handicap hurdle at the northern venue but Muroor was subsequently disqualified as the winning rider Conor Maxwell weighed in 1.7lbs light, which is 0.7lbs above the threshold for disqualification.

Today Lleyton did pass the post a winner, when beating Musical Ava by a length and a quarter and afterwards Finn said “that was Paul's (Townend, winning jockey) first time sitting on him and he is not the easiest. Dropping back to two miles, and the pace around here suited him but the loose horse was a bit of a hindrance and my heart was in my mouth.

“He won by default the last time so he got it properly today and coming down here I felt that he would like the track.

"He is entered in a Flat handicap at Navan next Wednesday over a mile and six. It'll get him balloted if nothing else and he'll get in the next day. I have no major plans for him."

Lleyton's success was small trainer Finn's eight success in the past six months.

Quotes from Donal Murphy