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Unity proves very tough to secure follow up win

Art Of Unity and Leigh Roche hold Arnhem (red & white)Art Of Unity and Leigh Roche hold Arnhem (red & white)
© Photo Healy Racing

Art Of Unity stuck his head out gamely to secure back to back wins at Navan this afternoon.

The John Feane-trained gelding had been a cosy winner at the Curragh on his last start. He was running off a 10lb higher mark and from 3lb out of the handicap this afternoon.

Leigh Roche always had the 11/2 shot prominent, in the Troytown Bar Handicap, and sent him to the front over a furlong from home.

The six-year-old wasn't for passing late on as Arnhem finished off well to push him to a head at the line.

“He was very brave today, tried very hard,” said Feane.

“I told Leigh to bounce out and make every post a winning one. He skipped along and you could see him putting his old ears back in the last 100 yards. He tried his heart out.

“He had 8-6 there and Leigh is a good, strong rider. Leigh and Gary Halpin suit him as they are strong riders but unfortunately Gary couldn't do the weight today and Leigh was a good deputy.

“He'll go for the Joe McGrath (at the Curragh on September 26th). The handicapper will have his way with him again but I better not say too much as I gave out about him a couple of times!”

1st
11/2
Tote €6.80 €1.60
2nd
hd
2/1Fav
€1.10
3rd
2.5L
9/1
€3.50
4th
1.25L
11/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.