Peacehaven (nearest) just gets up to deny Accalia© Photo Healy Racing
Peacehaven just got up to win the Kildare Post & kildarenow.com Apprentice Handicap, scoring under Denis Linehan for Johnny Murtagh.
Successful in a maiden over the course last month, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle was making her handicap debut this afternoon, and she was sent off the 3/1 market leader (from 7/2).
Settled behind the leaders, she was ridden over a furlong from home, and kept on well inside the final furlong, just getting up on the line to prevail by a nose.
The front-running Accalia was the one just denied, and he was returned at 8/1 under Tom Madden for John Hayden. Mr Bounty (11/2) completed the placings a further half a length back in third under Killian Leonard for Michael O'Callaghan.
Johnny Murtagh said afterwards: "She obviously likes it here. I was a bit worried about the step back to five furlongs but she is bred for it.
"It's great to have another winner, and we will look for a six furlongs handicap."
The winner is owned and bred by Ballygallon Stud Limited, and she is a half-sister to nine time winner Caspian Prince, and Group 2 winner Spirit Quartz.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
