Mark Monaghan and Leaves You Baby combined well in the concluding mile and a quarter apprentices handicap at the Curragh to score by half a length.
Mick Halford trained the 9/1 winner and he said: “She deserves that after her run at Leopardstown where she was unlucky and came home really well.
“I’m delighted for Mark. He’s the next apprentice coming along. He’s getting a few opportunities as Conor Hoban is injured and he did well.
“We’ll keep her handicapping. She’s very honest and she has been improving as the year goes along.
“It’s great to have the apprentices. We have an interest in bringing them along. They are a big addition to the yard and it’s good to claim off the horses as well.
“Hopefully Conor will be back on September 9. One lad’s bad luck is another lad’s good luck.” Un Hinged at 8/1 took second place with Brown Butterfly and Mount Abora coming home third and fourth at 12/1 and 16/1 respectively. Cloudgazer and Prince Of Fashion were the well-backed 13/2 joint favourites. The former was 11/1 in the morning with the latter 14/1, but they finished sixth and seventh.
The attendance at the track was 4,061 which was 900 down on last year. However, in last year’s meeting ladies received free admittance and the Curragh estimates that 1,500 ladies availed of that offer.
Michael Graham
