Slieve Bearnagh wins by narrowest of margins for Powell

Slieve Bearnagh was delivered right on the line under Jamie Powell to record a very narrow success in Division ll of the Gormanlough Apprentice Handicap at Navan.

A dual previous winner, the Michael Halford and Tracey Collins trained six-year-old was held up in mid division in the early part of this race, before making headway to track the leaders over two furlongs out.

Ridden to press the leader Lady Christa over 150 yards out, the Jamie Powell partnered gelding kept on strongly to get his nose in front right at the death.

Mick Halford said: "He did (conjure up a strong finish from him) and I'd say we were probably in the right division.

"I just said to Jamie that I thought that sort of trip would suit him and the ground.

"Some of these horses just need everything to fall right for them and everything fell right for him today. He was always capable of winning that type of race off that mark.

"Jamie is a young jockey I would have a lot of time for - he's very cool and calm and collected. He rides to orders and that. I knew his parents well and his grandmother taught me to ride back in the day. I hunted with his grandfather when I was a kid.

"I'm delighted for his owner Paul Rooney, his dad just hasn't been in the best of health just lately so Paul wasn't able to make it. He got a great kick of watching that at home. He has been an amazing owner for us and has been with us a long, long time."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham.