Shipyard justifies favouritism under Carroll

There was a nine minute delay to the start of the Come Racing Friday 11th July Handicap (Grey Danube got loose and was withdrawn) with Shipyard eventually coming out on top under Gary Carroll for Andy Oliver.

The five-year-old chestnut son of Pivotal was sent off the 3/1 favourite (opened at 5/1 on-course) after he finished second on his last two outings at Down Royal and Naas.

Drawn on the rail he raced prominently just off the pace in the early stages, coming under pressure two furlongs from home. More Questions came with what looked a winning run just inside the final furlong but he failed to see it out with the winner battling back gamely close home, getting up to win by a head.

The aforementioned Eddie Lynam trained More Question had to settle for second under Leigh Roche at 6/1 while Six Of Hearts finished a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Fran Berry for Cecil Ross.

Andy Oliver said afterwards: "He likes Navan (won his maiden over the course and distance) and he likes quicker ground.

"I'm on record of saying that since the start of the year. He went off favourite for the Lincoln but I said that wasn’t his ground.

"He is tough and genuine and Gary gave him a good ride.

"He is in the Paddy Power (Curragh June 28th) but that will depend on the ground.

"His owner is Graham Keyes and he is from Belfast."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham