Putin and Billy Lee led all the way© Photo Healy Racing
On his 134th start, Putin put up a remarkably tough display in the opener at Laytown, as the curtain-raiser on the beach went for export for the second year in succession.
The introduction of the starting stalls seemed to suit the Billy Lee-ridden winner well, as he bounced smartly from the gates in the At The Races App iPhone Or Android Handicap.
Following on from the win of Seamster in this contest twelve months back for Richard Ford, another British runner, Phil McEntee's Putin just wasn't for passing today. Kiss The Stars (8s earlier into 11/2) looked like she'd go by, but she just couldn't manage it, and Putin fended her off by a head. There was half a length to the staying on Shabra Emperor in third.
"My Dad is from Julianstown, just a couple of miles from here, and is buried three miles away," said McEntee.
"I haven't been over for a few years, and it's been top of my tick list to do, but it costs a few quid to to bring a couple of horses here.
"Steve (Jakes, winning owner) and me talked about it last year but it didn't happen as Putin was rated too lowly, and Swiss Cross was too high.
"This is emotional as I spent every summer here as a child, running up the beach pretending to be a jockey.
"I also rode here for Dad back in 1985. This is probably one of my favourite winners of all time.
"This is the horses 21st run of the year, and he's had surgery on his knees. I wanted to go for the claimer, but Steve talked me out of it.
"He was really coming as a companion for Swiss Cross. He's nicknamed War Horse as he runs every week."
(GC & EM)
