Veteran Gordon Lord Byron upsets the odds

Gordon Lord Byron rolled back the years to land the Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh.

The nine-year-old gelding was recording his 16th career victory, three of which have been gained at the highest level, and a change of tactics proved the key on the rain-softened ground.

The 20/1 outsider in the six-runner line-up (Acapulco absent due to a temperature) was prominent throughout and in front before halfway under Chris Hayes.

He stayed on really well inside the final furlong to beat Only Mine by a length and a half, with Suedois another half a length back in third.

Winning trainer Tom Hogan said, “He doesn’t relish that ground any longer but Chris was brave and said he’d ride him up there as nothing was going to come from behind here today on that ground. He went through it thank God but he’s a good actioned horse.

“He’s tough and he’s genuine. That’s his 16th win and I’d like to get to 20! He’s back up there close to the level when he won the Minstrel last year, and that’s a race he’s likely to go for again.

“It’s a privilege to have him and his owners. He’s a very special horse. He’ll be up in the invitation area now for races abroad again but he’s a horse that has always needed a lot of attention to keep him right. My head man Paddy O’Brien who led him up today takes care of him all the time.

“He gets a mile well so seeing the trip out today was going to be no problem to him but it’s nice to win over six furlongs as well.”