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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Progressive Wildcat takes Glencairn honours

Thu 11th Jun 2015, 19:58

Tennessee Wildcat & Colin Keane (outside) prove too good for Captain Joy & Pat SmullenTennessee Wildcat & Colin Keane (outside) prove too good for Captain Joy & Pat Smullen
© Photo Healy Racing

Tennessee Wildcat sprang a surprise in the Listed Copper Face Jacks Glencairn Stakes as the outsider of four landed the spoils under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons and owner Sean Jones.

Having won twice at Dundalk earlier this year he finished a close-up third to Hasanour on his last start in a valuable handicap at the Curragh on Guineas weekend.

Sent off a 7/1 chance this evening he was settled in rear before improving into second on the rail as they entered the straight.

He was ridden to go in pursuit of the leader from under two furlongs out, getting to the front inside the final 100 yards before going on to score by three parts of a length. Captain Joy who attempted to make all, had to settle for second under Pat Smullen for Tracey Collins at 7/2 (from 4's). My Titania was sent off the 10/11 favourite and she finished a disappointing last under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx.

Ger Lyons said afterwards: "Colin gave him a peach of a ride - he's riding out of his skin.

"Since we've stepped him up to a mile he hasn't looked back. He's in great order and loved the ground.

"It's great for Sean (Jones) and great to be involved in these kind of races.

"We brought him to the sales and couldn't get 70,000. Since we've stepped him up he's paid us back and is a lovely horse to have now.

"It wasn't ideal for Brendan (Bracken). We didn't want to make the pace as he was pacemaker in Newmarket and was a bit free then last time.

"We decided to drop him in and the way Andrea rode him will set him up for something nice at the end of the year on a bit juicier ground."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson