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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Digeanta stays on best to score

Sun 19th Jul 2015, 17:30

Digeanta relishes two miles round the CurraghDigeanta relishes two miles round the Curragh
© Photo Healy Racing

Willie Mullins's Digeanta wore down Awesome Star in the two mile handicap at the Curragh, to the delight of favourite backers.

The eight-year-old gelding raced in third as Face value opened up a massive lead on Awesome Star, who in turn raced clear of Digeanta. Face Value increased his lead to 20 lengths but the petrol gauge started to flash with over four furlongs left as Awesome Star raced alongside and soon swept past him.

Digeanta followed suit as Face Value weakened quickly. Digeanta was three lengths off Awesome Star at the three pole but Pat Smullen hadn't played his cards yet.

Smullen asked his mount for more with a quarter of a mile to go and Digeanta was ridden to collar Awesome Star at the furlong pole.

The 2/1 favourite kept on stoutly to grind out a victory by two and three quarter lengths. Awesome Star (9/2) held on for second by a neck from Ceylon (20/1).

Pat Smullen said: "Everything worked out perfectly for him as they went hard from the start.

"They went very, very quick and set it up for him as he always keeps galloping. That's all he's been lacking is pace like that in his races."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
2/1Fav
Tote €3.10 €2.20
2nd
2.75L
9/2
€1.80
3rd
nk
20/1
4th
1.75L
10/1
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.