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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Count Salazar gets his reward

Mon 28th Oct 2013, 16:53

Count Salazar leads over the last in GalwayCount Salazar leads over the last in Galway
© Photo Healy Racing

Count Salazar determinedly won the Ennis Handicap Chase in Galway to snap a string of second placed finishes.

It had been three runner-up berths in-a-row for Eoin Doyle’s eight-year-old gelding, but he made no mistake today.

He travelled and jumped well and assumed the lead jumping the second last in this two and three quarter mile race. It’s a long way home from there though in Galway and Jody McGarvey was seen to good effect working hard at stoking up his mount on the home bend.

Challengers started to loom, not least Goonyella who wasn’t able to get his head in front as Count Salazar proved relentless in front in landing the prize by a length and a half at 6/1. The runner-up came in at 11/2, well backed from 8/1 on course. Unoccupied also saw money from 12s to 8/1 and his supporters got a place dividend when he came in third. The 11/4 favourite Bruff from 6/1 this morning, finished sixth.

“He was jumping so well that he got to the front sooner than I would have liked.

He’s a tough old horse and he stayed at it well,” Jody McGarvey said.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

1st
6/1
Tote €5.10 €1.60
2nd
1.25L
11/2
€2.50
3rd
3.75L
8/1
€4.50
bf
6L
11/4Fav
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.