Tough Slipper scores for Foley & Halford

Slipper Orchid recorded her fifth career success as she took the Lyrath Estate & Spa Ladies Day July 13th Race scoring under Shane Foley for Mick Halford.

The five-year-old daughter of Verglas ran a cracker on her last start at Naas, finishing a never nearer length and three parts second to Tested in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes.

Sent off a 5/2 chance this evening she was prominent throughout, disputing the lead with Intensical for much of the race.

She was headed on the outer by Elusive Time at the two furlong pole but she battled gamely under pressure regaining the lead a furlong out before going on to score by a neck. Bubbly Bellini came through in the closing stages to take second under Sean Corby for Adrian McGuinness at 14/1.

Intensical went off the well-backed 2/1 favourite (opened 3/1 on-course) but he disappointingly finished last of the five runners under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger.

Mick Halford said afterwards: "She is as game and consistent as they come and I felt a reproduction of her Naas run would leave her hard to beat.

"There was no pace and Shane felt he had no choice but to sit in front.

"Banna Boirche won the race last year the same way and he had never made the running in his life before.

"That is as quick as she would want it and she is entered in a couple of Group Three races at Leopardstown and we’ll probably look at those."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee