Zebgrey appreciates step up in trip

Zebgrey got off the mark on her fifteenth career start, as she got up close home to land the Navan Members Handicap under Ronan Whelan for Adrian McGuinness.

Second to Suvenna at Listowel last Sunday, the daughter of Zebedee was stepped up to a mile for the first time today.

Available at 10/1 last night, she came in for some market support today, opening on-course at 7/1 before going off a 6/1 joint-favourite in the colours of owner Siobhan Gallagher.

Settled in mid-division she was seventh entering the straight. She tacked over to the rail from three furlongs out, and was soon ridden.

She went third at the furlong pole and really got going from there, hitting the front inside the final 50 yards before going on to score by half a length.

Top-weight Drillmaster (13/2), who was seeking his fourth win in-a-row hit the front as they entered the final furlong, but he couldn't hold off the challenge of the winner, and had to settle for second under Declan McDonogh for Charles O'Brien.

An Duine Uasal (14/1) kept on well to take third under Gary Carroll for Adrian Keatley, while the front-running Midnightmudcrabs completed the placings a further half a length back in fourth under Gary Halpin for Johnny Feane.

The well-backed Ruby Gates was the other joint-favourite (from 10’s this morning), and she finished seventh under Donnacha O’Brien for his brother Joseph.

Adrian McGuinness said afterwards: “She ran some cracking races and deserved that. That’s the first time we stepped up to this trip. It’s a stiff mile but she stayed every yard, and I’d not be afraid to step her up again.

"There are sprinters and hurdlers in her family. Hopefully she will progress again, and I’m sure she will climb the hill in Galway!"

Additional reporting by Alan Magee