Ever Rock with Sam Ewing in the plate© Photo Healy Racing
First reserve Ever Rock (22/1) made the most of her opportunity to win the big-field sprint-handicap that concluded the Curragh's card. Attelboro scorched off in front and was clear at the halfway stage of this six-furlong heat, however, the petrol gauge began to flicker at the two pole and he was swallowed up by the final furlong.
Ever Rock was produced by Sam Ewing and pair were strong in the closing stages as they increased their lead to a length and three quarters at the line. She's In The Game (7/2f) led home the remainder followed by Strange Times (9/2) and Florence Thompson (14/1) in third and fourth respectively.
“We were very unlucky in the last race with Reverberation He’s a type of horse that you have to ride for luck and he nearly got there," said trainer Jimmy Lambe.
“I told Sam to ride her cold, she’ll come home well and he gave her a great ride.
“She won over five (furlongs) in Down Royal but they went very hard that day and it looks like the race fell apart.
“They went hard today and it looks like it may have fell apart as well, but she was there to pick up the pieces. We’ll keep going with her until she tells me that she has had enough.
“A small trainer like me from the north could have had a double at the Curragh but I’m happy with one. The horses are running well and long may it continue.
“The owner (Richie Behan) is a local man and he supports me very well.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee