Raise claims Leger trial in style

Raise You put himself in line for a tilt at the Irish St Leger after winning the trial race at the Curragh this afternoon.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained gelding continued on an upward curve when running out a convincing winner of the Group 3 contest over the Leger trip of a mile-and-six.

Shane Crosse tracked the leaders on the 5/4 favourite before letting his mount coast up to tackle dual Irish Leger winner Search For A Song passing the two pole.

He asked his mount to go on over a furlong from home and the son of Lope De Vega galloped on strongly in the closing stages to post a two-length success.

The winner has been a slightly unlucky loser on his previous outing at Limerick when getting caught on the rail in the Martin Molony Stakes, finishing second to another highly progressive sort in Earl Of Tyrone.

Stable representative Brendan Powell said afterwards:- “It couldn't have worked out better. We were a bit worried that there would be no pace but luckily enough Nathan (Crosse) has gone on and made the gallop (on Seattle Creek .

“Then Chris (Hayes) has probably helped us by going on when he did (six furlongs out).

“Shane said he relaxed today, we usually drop him out but he couldn't today with what happened last time.

“The idea was to try and sit handy if there was a gallop, which happened. He said he travelled great, he thought he might go away from the second a bit quicker but when he got there he just kept lengthening and he's gone away and done it well in the end.

“He's just keeps improving all the time. I suppose it'll be the Leger now and then see where we go from there.

“That ground would probably be quick enough for him as well. He's relaxing way more at home now, Paddy Vaughan rides him every day now after Leighton (Aspell) left. He wasn't the easiest, he was a tearaway, but the two of them have done a great job.

“I remember when we came for the amateur derby last year we were sort of thinking there was no point going there as he wouldn't get the trip but he put that to bed!”

Paddy Power cut Raise You from 25/1 to 14/1 for the Long Distance Cup.