Winning trainer Willie McCreery© Photo Healy Racing
The versatile Leah Claire recorded her eighth career success as she grounded down the front running Tantalising to win the Spin 1038 Rated Race for trainer Willie McCreery and jockey Shane Kelly (recorded his first success in Ireland on Friday which was also for McCreery).
The seven-year-old daughter of Tomba, who was formerly trained Matthieu Palussiere, won a hurdle at Limerick on her last start earlier this month.
Sent off the 15/8 second favourite, she raced in fourth in the early stages behind the 7/4 favourite (opened at 2/1 on-course) Tantalising, who attempted to make all under Ronan Whelan for Patrick Prendergast.
Tantalising kicked for home two furlongs out as Leah Claire went in pursuit. She closed the gap a furlong out and she got to the front inside the final furlong, going on to score by a neck at the line.
The well backed, Tommy Carmody trained Manuka (13/2 this morning and 9/2 into 10/3 on-course) could only manage third under Ben Curtis while 16/1 shot Asiya refused to race.
Willie McCreery said afterwards: "She'll get an entry in the Opportunity race (the Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle next Wednesday) at Punchestown but she might have top weight.
"She will also get an entry in the two and a half mile race on the Saturday and that would give her an extra few days.
"She had to run hard there to win as the other horse kept picking up."
(Additional reporting by Gary Carson)
