Valbucca and Shane Kelly are successful at Navan© Photo Healy Racing
Valbucca continued to show improvement when taking her third handicap in a row for handler Willie McCreery.
Wayne Lordan was on her previous two victories, but Shane Kelly did the steering today and was praised by McCreery who said: “He gave her a very good ride as they went a right clip.” Mamma Rosa took the 16-runner field along and was well clear in the mile and a quarter contest until the distress signals went up two furlongs out.
At this stage Valbucca was ninth, but started to wind up her challenge on the outside and she powered into the lead in the final 150 yards.
As big as 8/1 this morning, Valbucca’s SP was 11/2. Willie McCreery added: “She’s improving all the time. I thought the better ground might catch her out.
“It’s hard to win three handicaps in Ireland. I’m delighted for the owners (Mrs E Cosgrove) who couldn’t be here as they are at a charity event.
“I’ll see what the handicapper does. I might have no option but to look at black type for her. My horses are fit and well.”
Valbucca took the spoils by two lengths with Opera Street (9/2) pipping Dane Street (14/1 to 8/1 at the track) for second by a nose. Morethanafeeling came in fourth at 10/1. Kerisa was sent off 4/1 favourite for John Oxx and Declan McDonogh. She was a head out of the placings in fifth.
