Rumi holds the blinkered Valleyoftheeagles by a head© Photo Healy Racing
The @GowranPark1 Handicap produced a cracking finish as Rumi (16/1) and Cian Horgan just held the late thrust of the 7/2 favourite Valleyoftheeagles
Off the track since falling over fences at Ballinrobe almost a year ago, the Harzand gelding was under pressure behind the leaders early in the straight but picked up well to hit the front a furlong out and did enough to score by a head from the market leader who came from a long way off the pace.
Winning trainer Edward O'Grady said of the six-year-old which he owns himself: “All credit to Ger Kelly in Fethard. I thought he’d broken his neck when he fell in Ballinrobe, but it turned out he’d broken his shoulder.
“He operated on him and took out a piece of bone that was bigger than a golf ball. We just gave him time and it’s incredible to get him back like that.
“He was impressive the first day he ran over hurdles in Listowel and then I was a little bit disappointed with him. He only ran once more over hurdles but I think he’s a better horse now.
“He could run over hurdles at Punchestown next weekend and we’ll see how we go from there.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
