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Gabriella's Spirit lands nice pot for Condon & Lee

Gabriella's Spirit beats the grey Little Queenie Gabriella's Spirit beats the grey Little Queenie
© Photo Healy Racing

Speed held up in the featured Doneraile Handicap and one of those in the front rank throughout, Gabriella's Spirit just lasted home in a blanket finish. 

Formerly trained in Britain, the 17/2 chance was successful on her Irish debut at Tipperary in May and finished a close third at the Curragh on Derby weekend. 

Here, having been ridden a furlong out, she gained a narrow lead inside the final hundred yards and scored by a neck from Little Queenie with Jon Riggens who made up a lot ground from the rear of the field, just a further head away in third.

It was a double for Bill Lee after his win on A Lilac Rolla in the opener.

Ken Condon, who trains the winner for Con Harrington, said: "Chris Hayes rode her in a four-way tight finish at the Curragh the last day and we decided to go for cheekpieces today. Billy said she enjoyed getting a bit of light and, as it worked out, was on the right side of the draw as she got a nice lead from Dun Na Sead who was quickly away.

"This is a lovely prize to win and these Premier Handicaps are hard won. It is nice for Con who bred her and it is a family he knows well.

"She has such a nice pedigree that there is nothing to be lost by looking for black-type and she could run in the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary now."

Quotes from Tom Weekes

1st
17/2
Tote €10.40 €3.60
2nd
nk
12/1
€1.10
3rd
hd
13/2
€3.40
4th
0.5L
8/1
bf
1.25L
4/1Fav
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.