Barack and Ben Curtis time it well at Leopardstown© Photo Healy Racing
Once the furious early pace collapsed in the Ladbrokes Handicap a wall of horses held chances in the final furlong, but it was was Barack who outgunned them all as he swooped down the stands-side to win by half a length at 14/1.
Daymoona (11/1) for Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes burst out the pack and looked to have stolen a march in the final furlong, but she had no answer to Barack and Ben Curtis’s late thrust at the end of a mile and a furlong.
“He’s a real consistent little horse. He just didn’t get his ground this year. The track is in great nick, there is no jar in it,” trainer Willie McCreery said.
“He has to come with a rattle on the outside. He can’t come between horses. Ben had to sit and suffer. It’s a nice long straight here. The last couple of times the ground has been a bit fast for him or firm for him.
“I’m delighted for the owner John Malone. He’s easy to train for and there’s no hassle with him.” Mona Brown for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning was third, another half a length down, at 14/1. Won Diamond the well-backed 4/1 favourite for Mick Halford and Shane Foley (from 12/1 this morning) could make no impression in ninth.
Ahead of the Irish Champion Stakes, Al Kazeem #8217;s trainer Roger Charlton confirmed that his charge would indeed run, after he had walked the track.
“We are running. I’d like more rain. It’s good ground just – the top is coming off it but it is not yielding. The ideal situation for Al Kazeem is good to soft,” he said.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
