Njord backers all the richer as he cuts down rivals

Njord bucked the trend of prominent racers doing best at The Curragh today when coming from well back to land the Equi MediRecord Handicap over ten furlongs.

Shane Foley ’s mount had only one behind him turning in, but once switched to the outside and asked for maximum effort he cut down his rivals and raced away for a two length success.

Back in fourth, Contrapposto had a luckless run in the home straight before getting out into the clear and staying on well, but it’s not the first time that fate has befallen that particular horse.

Bought out of Sheila Lavery’s stable last year, having won twice for her, the gelding by Roderic O’Connor won his first start for Jessica Harrington at Galway in October, before maybe finding the ground a bit too quick in the Irish Lincolnshire on his comeback run earlier this month.

Trainer’s daughter and assistant Kate Harrington said: “You would have to be delighted with that, a first time going a mile and a quarter.

"I thought Shane gave him a pretty ballsy ride. He sat nearly last and came up around them. He loved it and does like a bit of juice in the ground.

“I’d say we’ll look at Galway as he’s won around there and we could look at something like the Topaz Mile.

“He has to find his feet. He loves travelling and picked up really well there.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee