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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Sea's Aria a good spare for Lee

Sat 13th Aug 2016, 19:49

Sea's Aria and Billy Lee team up wellSea's Aria and Billy Lee team up well
© Photo Healy Racing

First-reserve Sea's Aria made the most of his opportunity to take Tramore's concluding Stand Inn Handicap over two miles.

Billy Lee brought Denis Hogan's charge into fourth on the outer five furlongs out and the pair soon improved to second alongside Danequest

Racing towards the two marker, Billy Lee sent Sea's Aria on and his mount picked up well to lead by a couple of lengths entering the straight.

He was chased on the run-in by top-weight Vote Of Confidence but repelled him by a length and three quarters.

The winner's SP was 8/1 with runner-up Vote Of Confidence a 16/1 shot. Ondamoura (13/2) came in five and a half lengths further back in third.

Billy Lee said: "He didn't really travel. We went a good gallop early on but he didn't really travel. I just had to give him a chance and I sat away. Going out the last time he came on the bridle and travelled well down the hill.

"He probably got there a bit soon but I had to keep him going and he kept going well to the line. Denis was happy with him coming into the race and gave him a chance. I got the call to ride him just an hour or so before racing and it was a nice spare to pick up."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

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.