Mr lands a Right gamble

The Johnny Levins trained Mr Right landed a gamble in the opener at Cork, the Friday Evening Meetings At Cork Racecourse Handicap.

A four time winner last year, the five-year-old son of Echo Of Light finished down the field on his seasonal reappearance at Naas last month.

Available at 20/1 last night, the bay victor opened at 7's on-course, touching 8's before going off a 6/1 chance.

Prominent throughout under Donagh O'Connor, he was ridden two furlongs from home and soon hit the front, keeping on well from over a furlong out to score by a length and a half. A Few Dollars More (6/1) finished second under Declan McDonogh for Andy Slattery, while The McGregornator (33/1) was another three parts of a length back in third under Leigh Roche for Adrian Keatley. Golden Pearl was sent off the 9/2 favourite and she finished a disappointing twelfth under Shane Foley for Mick Halford.

Levins said afterwards: "I'm delighted to get him back into the winning groove. I'm a big admirer of these open handicaps when an 84 rated horse can get into a 0-80 handicap, especially when you gave a talented 5lbs claimer (O'Connor) to get him down into the handicap proper.

"He didn't do an awful lot right but had the class to stay going and I'm hoping I can get him into a Premier Handicap during the middle of the season.

"If you saw him at home, you'd be running him over five and he's the fastest horse I have but I think anywhere between six, seven (furlongs) or an easy mile would suit him best."

The winner is owned and was bred by Derek Healy.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes