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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Saint Gervais and O'Connor team up well

Thu 19th Jun 2014, 22:09

Saint Gervais puts the last race to bedSaint Gervais puts the last race to bed
© Photo Healy Racing

A big field of 17 went to post for the qualified riders’ maiden in Leopardstown, but Saint Gervais came through to win a shade cosily.

Derek O’Connor, who was 1lb over weight on John Kiely’s nine-year-old gelding, set off in pursuit of clear leader Draco over a furlong out. He soon reeled him in and forged on well to win by three and a half lengths at 9/1.

John Kiely said: “He got a bit jarred after a fall at Punchestown and it took him a while to recover. Hopefully he’ll be okay tomorrow and he’ll mix it over the summer when hopefully we’ll get a little cut in the ground.”

Draco at 8/1 hit the line in second. He was half a length up on Silverpockets (22/1) who stayed on for third. Fourni was the money horse as her odds tumbled from 7/2 in morning trading to an SP of 7/4f. She kept on at the same pace in the final furlong to be fifth.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
9/1
Tote €9.80 €2.70
2nd
3.5L
8/1
€3.30
3rd
0.5L
22/1
€5.10
4th
1.5L
8/1
bf
1.75L
7/4Fav
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.