18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Aleef scores on third start for Condon

Sat 18th May 2019, 14:23

Aleef (navy colours) and Shane Foley prove too good for Amanaat (orange) and Bailly (right)Aleef (navy colours) and Shane Foley prove too good for Amanaat (orange) and Bailly (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

Aleef followed-up on a good effort at Naas last month, as he took the navanracecourse.ie Handicap under Shane Foley for Ken Condon.

Twice successful when trained in the UK, the son of Kodiac went unsold for 7,500 guineas at Tattersalls in October.

He finished down the field on debut for Condon and the Cinco Partnership over the course and distance in March, but performed much better last time out, finishing second of twenty-two behind Mokhalad.

Having opened at 7s on-course this afternoon, the son of Kodiac eventually went off at 11/2 under Shane Foley.

Towards the head of affairs throughout, the bay six-year-old was ridden over a furlong from home and soon led, keeping on well in the closing stages to prevail by three parts of a length. Amanaat (7/1) came through to take second under Rory Cleary for Denis Hogan, while Bailly (8/1), who disputed the lead with the winner for most the contest, was another half a length back in third.

UK raider Only Spoofing was sent off a well-backed 3/1 favourite (12s in early shows and 4s on-course), but he failed to make an impact and finished sixth.

"He had a good run behind Mokhalad the last day," said Foley.

"I was afraid of firm ground but it's actually beautiful good ground and when I walked the track I was a bit more confident.

"He stuck at it well. Ken does a great job with any horse he gets. Hopefully Romanised runs a big race for him in the Lockinge later."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
11/2
Tote €5.50 €1.40
2nd
0.75L
7/1
€3.20
3rd
0.5L
8/1
€1.60
4th
1.5L
5/1
bf
2.25L
3/1Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.