No More Porter and Kevin Manning win well from the grey Mary Salome© Photo Healy Racing
The action was all on the stands’ side in the final furlong of the Sporting Life Handicap (45-70) as the 15/2 chance No More Porter (drawn 32) went clear of his 29 rivals to score by two and a half lengths in the hands of Kevin Manning.
The gelded son of Elzaam, from an Aga Khan family on the dam side and a half-brother to a Grade Two winner over hurdles, was making his handicap debut after four runs in maidens, the most recent of which saw him finish mid-division over 5f at Cork.
His opening price this morning was around 11/2 after he had been supported at fancier prices when betting opened on the race last night. Mary Salome was next best at 11/1 with Karlberg catching the eye in third at 33/1.
Winning trainer Johnny Feane said: “He’s just an improving horse. He showed us a little bit the last day and we thought he had a good chance here today.
“Ivan Holloway bred him and heads up the syndicate with a lot of his pals.
“There is a seven-furlong race at Leopardstown on the 17th and there is six-furlong race in Naas as well.
“I think he’ll be versatile enough with trip, and it’s a fair performance for a three-year-old to win on his first run in a handicap.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
