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Foreign Legion battles well for Coakley

Foreign Legion and Ross Coakley (near side) move past eventual fourth Linus LarrabeeForeign Legion and Ross Coakley (near side) move past eventual fourth Linus Larrabee
© Photo Healy Racing

The Crown Plaza Hotel Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap (Div I) saw the always-prominent Foreign Legion (5/1) come home in front under Ross Coakley who was partnering the well-bred 5-year-old for the first time.

Unraced as a young horse with Aidan O’Brien, the Declaration Of War gelding was a four-time winner on all-weather tracks in Britain before returning to Ireland.

He was a winner at Listowel in September and this victory took his career record to 6 wins from 30 starts. Sunset Nova (5/1) and Silk Cravat (11/1) filled the placings, beaten half a length and the same, with the wayward 3/1 favourite Linus Larrabee back in fourth having veered right when briefly heading the eventual winner over a furlong out.

Winning trainer John Larkin, based in nearby Dunleer, said: “He might run again before Christmas. He's a good solid handicapper and we're very lucky to have him.

“He's a nice horse, a well-bred horse. Breen (White, owner) is lucky and Ross has been lucky for us before as well.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.