Aklan just holds on in Lenebane thriller Aklan just held on, in an exciting finish, to take the feature race at Roscommon this evening, the Listed Lenebane Stakes for his trainer John Oxx with Ben Curtis in the saddle. Oxx who won this race in '08, '09 and '10 had to settle for second last year with Haziyna but he regained the title this year with the 3yo son of Dalakhani. Aklan won his maiden on his debut at the Curragh in April over 1m 2f and then finished a decent fourth behind Backbench Blues in the Listed Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown over 1m 3f. Last time out he finished a disappointing sixth in the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick late last month behind Tannery. Stepping up in trip by a furlong today to 1m 4f, he travelled best entering the straight and took over in front from stable mate Handazan (6/1) with less than two furlong left to go. He kept on well under pressure from there despite being strongly pressed and he just hung on from the fast finishing 9/4 favourite Massiyn under Johnny Murtagh for Mick Halford by a short head. Eternal Bounty, who was wearing cheekpieces for the first time, was just a head back in third under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman at 12/1 while Sense Of Purpose was a neck back in fourth under Pat Smullen for Dermot Weld also at 12/1. The winner, who was fitted with a tongue tie for the first time today, was returned at 12/1 having opening on course at 16/1. Winning trainer John Oxx said afterwards: "He started the year well and won well at the Curragh. "He ran ok on his second start although he was very green. I thought he would run well at Limerick but there was no pace there and that didn’t suit him. "There was a reasonable pace today and he handled the ground and stayed well. "He was probably in front a bit soon and wandered around. He might go for the Challenge Stakes at Leopardstown now later in the month." The first two home were of course owned by the Aga Khan who has had plenty of success in this race down through the years. (On-course reporting by Gary Carson)
