New tactics for 11-year-old Park Row sees retirement talk shelved

Park Row (10/1) built on a promising fourth placing at Limerick three weeks back to bag a ninth career success in division one of the Troytown Bar Handicap at Navan.

For the father and son team of Denis and Ross Coakley, the Where Or When eleven-year-old has appreciated the switch to more patient tactics and over the mile five here he got the better of 50/1 chance, Banjo by three parts of a length.

The luckless favourite Eastern Tornado was a length and three parts back in third.

“The last year has been so hard as he's had little niggly things. A couple of runs ago we thought about retiring him but he came back to form, thank goodness,” said Coakley senior.

“He ran a cracker the last day. All credit to Ross as he wanted to change the tactics, instead of making the running we dropped him in and he appreciated it.

“It's brilliant for us all, for everyone at home. That's his sixth win for us and he had three for Johnny Feane as well.

“He's 11-years-old but he's still got plenty of life in him.”

The Stewards enquired into an incident inside the final furlong involving Storm Steps ridden by B.M. Coen, Grey Serge (GB), ridden by Cillian McConnell, Eastern Tornado, ridden by C.T. Keane, and Mastermind ridden by N.M. Crosse, where it appeared that Eastern Tornado and Grey Serge checked. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. C.T. Keane stated that after turning for home he ran out to get the best ground, however got no luck in running. C. McConnell stated that he got no luck in running and checked to avoid running onto heels. N.M. Crosse stated that his mount was lugging and he used his whip to correct him. B.M. Coen stated that his mount ducked out, he straightened him up but his mount was getting tired. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanations offered and took no further action.

R.P. Whelan, rider of Anyonecanhaveitall (GB) trained by M.Halford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lugged a bit left 2 furlongs out.

M.A. Gallagher, rider of Macaban City trained by Gerard Michael Hussey, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was slowly away.

J.M. Sheridan, rider of Eagle Reel trained by Luke Comer, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung right in the straight.

(GC & EM)