King Alex (18) is alongside Walk Me Home (white cap), which is about to unseat Mark Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
King Alex was the second consecutive winner at Navan today to capitalise on a final flight exit of a J.P McManus owned horse as he landed the dramatic concluding Navanracecourse.ie Handicap Hurdle for owner/trainer Barry Connell and winning jockey Mark Bolger.
The son of Born King was being challenged by McManus' Walk Me Home at the final flight and while both horses briefly bumped, jockey Mark Walsh was unseated on landing from Walk Me Home.
This left King Alex and Bolger clear and able to record a three lengths win over Presenting Meghan
In the half-hour earlier handicap hurdle, McManus and Walsh also experienced misfortune as strong-travelling leader Pike County exited at the final flight, by falling. The pair, however, did win the 1pm Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle with Sire Du Berlais
Following King Alex's win, trainer/owner Connell reported “it think that track suited him a bit better than Ballinrobe as he's so big.
“His future is probably going to be chasing. I think there is a similar race over two-and-a-half at Fairyhouse at the Drinmore meeting. That could be a target for him.
“We'll probably keep him hurdling until the handicapper gets to him. We can go chasing then, he has a mark over fences.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
