Invincible Don and Paddy Mangan clear the last alongside the loose horse© Photo Healy Racing
Jockey Pat Mangan rode like a man with an important match to attend when booting Invincible Don home the seven and a half lengths winner of the Kells Handicap Hurdle at Navan today.
Mangan produced the John Morrison trained gelding with good timing and had plenty to spare at the line over the placed horses, runner-up Magical Moon and the well-backed favourite Top Spin
The favourite, which was as big as 7/2 in the morning before contracting in to an SP of 13/8 had blundered badly at the fourth hurdle but soon recovered from the error.
Mangan and winning trainer John Morrison (absent today) had teamed up to win the prestigious Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel in 2011 with Much Acclaimed and after today's success the Corkonian jockey later revealed “I'm heading off to the All-Ireland Hurling replay (5pm throw-in) now!”
He added “Invincible Don's run on the Flat was good enough the last day and he has probably came on from that.”
By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
