Northern Surprise and Bill Lee © Photo Healy Racing
Jockey Bill Lee completed an opening races double at Sligo today when teaming up with Punchestown festival winning trainer Tim Doyle to win the www.countysligoraces.com Handicap with well backed 7/4 favourite (from 3s) Northern Surprise
Connections had to endure a Stewards' Enquiry before collecting the prize, with Northern Surprise having drifted towards the inside rail in the closing stages, hampering half length runner-up Tom Dooley
The Stewards later left the result stand, giving Lee his double (won the opener on Champagne Or Water and providing Doyle with a second winner of the week, having sent out Mallowney to win at Punchestown on Thursday.
Doyle was at Gowran and Lee later briefly said “my lad doesn't do a lot when he hits the front and he was the same at Gowran the last day. He kept at it well enough and is a nice horse who keeps improving.”
Lee was later handed four days in suspensions for his winning ride, two days for excessive use of the whip and a further two (oddly given he appeared to do his best to keep his mount straight) for careless riding.
By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
