18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Laurel Wreath takes the honours for Cleary

      Laurel Wreath is clear under Rory Cleary Laurel Wreath is clear under Rory Cleary
© Photo Healy Racing

Laurel Wreath (15/2) got off the mark on her third start when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden in the hands of Rory Cleary.

Mid-division on debut at Tipperary last month, the 3-y-o by Hot Streak (Group 2 Temple Stakes winner in 2014) showed improvement when second in Sligo last week.

Here, she raced close to the pace before being ridden to lead over a furlong from home.

She kept on well to hold the staying-on Call Of The Jungle by a length and a half. The 6/4 favourite Allez Allez Allez finished seventh.

The winner is a half-sister to dual Listed-winning sprinter Global Applause.

Winning trainer Brian Nolan commented: “She ran very well in Sligo and was very unlucky as she got badly bumped and was shoved out four wide.

“The track probably didn't suit her in Sligo but there weren't many six furlong races coming up for fillies so we took a chance.

“I think the draw beat us there, if we had been drawn three of four we probably would have gone close to winning.

“We knew Navan would suit her better, as it's dead straight.

“Maybe we'll try and get a little bit of black-type now. I stuck her in the Ballyogan Stakes yesterday and that's where she'll head now with a bit of luck.

“She's definitely improving, she stays six and is fast enough for five.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.