Mass Gathering a first winner for Murray

Mass Gathering sprang a 25/1 surprise in the opener at Sligo, the Yeats Country Claiming Race, providing her trainer Joseph 'Gerry' Murray with his first success.

Prominent in the early stages, the Canford Cliffs bay was eventually settled behind the leaders on the inner.

Pushed along to challenge on the approach to the straight, the four-year-old soon got to the front and was ridden a few lengths clear from the furlong pole, keeping on well from there to score by a length-and-a-half under Gearoid Brouder for owners the Lios Dearg Partnership . Royal Tribute (17/2) ran on well to take second under Sean Bowen for Denis Hogan, while Eglish who was returned the 9/2 favourite, was another four-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.

Previously trained by Tommy Stack and Tom Cleary, the winner had been out of form of late, with her sole previous success coming back in September of 2020.

"That's my first winner. I worked for George Webb for five years before getting my own licence," Murray said.

"I thought she had a chance. She ran a couple of crackers at the Curragh and she's just been coming to hand.

"She had been injured and I must say that Tom Cleary, who used have her, and his son Paul did a great job with her. They swam her in the Shannon and helped her to recover.

"She came to me when I started out and she's had a few little issues and it’s taken nearly a year to get her right, but she's a good little filly.

"If we hang onto her, we won’t run her in another claimer.

"I'm based in Belmount in Offaly which is good football and hurling country. I have a small team of horses there."

There was just one claim made after the race, with Eglish bought by James McAuley for E9,000.

STEWARDS REPORTS

D. McMonagle, rider of Beleaguerment trained by James McAuley, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away out of the starting stalls.

J. Coen, rider of Keepthebestsideout trained by Michael J. Browne, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was slowly away out of the starting stalls and never travelled during the race.

At the request of the Handicapper, the Stewards sought a report from J.G. Murray, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Mass Gathering, placed first, as compared with its recent run at the Curragh on the 10th April when finishing 16th of 24 runners beaten less than seven lengths behind the winner Cailin Cliste. J.G. Murray reported that he was very satisfied with the run at the Curragh as his charge finished close up in a large field of runners. Since then he was advised by a work rider to check his charges wind and this resulted in the palate being lasered. Overall he felt that his charge had improved gradually from the two previous runs to win this claiming race. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Mark Nunan