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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

West wins great tussle with Dog

Sat 29th Dec 2018, 13:06

Castlebawn West and Ruby Walsh (nearest) beat The Big Dog Castlebawn West and Ruby Walsh (nearest) beat The Big Dog
© Photo Healy Racing

The Pigsback.com Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown produced a terrific finish with Castlebawn West just edging the verdict from The Big Dog after a great tussle.

The Big Dog was driven into the lead before the final flight in the two-and-a-half mile contest but was soon joined by Castlebawn West.

A better jump by Peter Fahey's charge gave him a slight advantage at the final flight but Ruby Walsh drove his mount into a narrow lead on the run-in.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding stuck on gamely to hold the renewed challenge of his rival by a head at the line.

The winner had proved easy to back and returned 7/2 having been 2/1 this morning. Dream Conti the 5/2 favourite, was 11-lengths back in third.

Mullins said:- “He had the benefit of a previous run and that stood to him. He did it well.

“He'll continue on the staying novice hurdle route. I'd imagine.”

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.