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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Brendan Brackan refuses to be passed

Sat 17th Oct 2015, 16:12

Brendan Brackan strides on in CorkBrendan Brackan strides on in Cork
© Photo Healy Racing

Brendan Brackan bounced right back to form when making all in the Listed corkracecourse.ie Navigation Stakes over an extended mile.

Gary Carroll set out to make it a true test for Brendan Brackan's four rivals as he swiftly moved the 3/1 shot into the lead as the stalls opened.

The six-year-old gelding was ridden outside the two pole to go and win his race and he kept finding more for pressure. Akira the well-backed 6/4 favourite, tried to reel in Brendan Brackan in the final furlong but despite cutting into the lead all the time was still a length and a quarter in arrears at the line.

Successful handler Ger Lyons was represented by his assistant trainer Shane Lyons who said: "That's super and he deserved that.

"He's an absolute grinder and if they're dead on their feet in the last 100 yards there's no horses will pass him.

"He was unlucky the last day (Cambridgeshire, unseated rider leaving stalls) as he could have qualified for the next race (Balmoral Handicap) at Ascot, if he finished in the first six then. There were no qualifiers over here (Ireland) for him.

"He won a Listed race here last year and I'm delighted for owners David Spratt and Sean Jones. He's a real yard favourite and they bought him mid-season when he was going to the Sales."

This was Brendan Brackan's sixth career victory on his 31st start. His last win also came in Listed company over a mile at this track in August last year.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.