Focussed is driven out by Ronan Whelan to beat Hilltown Gal into second© Photo Healy Racing
Focussed followed up on his win at Galway on Saturday as he took the Ladies Day 8th August Nursery Handicap under Ronan Whelan for Brendan Duke.
The son of Intense Focus shed his maiden tag on his handicap debut at Ballybrit, and he was sent off 3/1 joint-favourite (opened 7/2) to make it two in-a-row this evening.
The Jackie Bolger owned colt hit the front before the straight and he kept on gamely in front to score by half a length.
Hiltlown Gal tried to grind down the winner in the closing stages, but she couldn’t peg him back and had to settle for second under Ian Brennan for Pat Martin at 5/1. Crafty Codger finished a length back in third at 8/1 under Sam James for Kevin Prendergast, while the other joint-favourite, Tom Dooley could only manage a disappointing sixth.
Brendan Duke said afterwards: "I took a bit of a chance running him here as the handicapper put him up four pounds but he was running under a five pound penalty.
"I wanted to run him in a 0-75 though, as that could be a distant memory in the future.
"He loves hard work and I think he is only just coming to himself.
"Jim (Bolger) texted me after he won in Galway saying ‘Maith an Fear’.
"He is in the Tattersalls Sales Race at the Curragh on August 24th and it is a race I would really like to win. If I could win that my bank manager could come off the tranquilisers!
"He could run at Gowran next Wednesday in a 0-85 Nursery."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
