Akinspirit justified his short price of 5/4 to win the first division of the [email protected] Handicap, for his Co Kilkenny trainer Michael Butler with fellow countyman Shane Foley (who was recording a double after winning aboard Katherine Lee earlier) in the saddle.
The son of Invincible Spirit has been a model of consistency this year, finishing out of the first three on just one of his seven starts.
He won a handicap over today's distance (1m 4f) at Wexford last month and followed that up finishing a good third behind The Bull Hayes in a valuable Killarney handicap hurdle on his last start.
Recording his sixth career victory today, the 7yo was ridden entering the straight but stayed on well under pressure to lead inside the final furlong. Winnie Minnie who looked set to finish a good second broke her leg on the run to the line and brought down both Peccatorum (who was in fourth) and Caracal as a result. Bashkirov avoided the carnage to finish two lengths back in second at 15/2 (backed from 10/1) while Mokama ran her best race to date to finish third at 18/1, a further seven lengths behind.
Winning trainer Michael Butler said afterwards: "The summer is near over and he's a summer horse. He might get another run in September, maybe back here. He handles the track here.
"That's a double today with Kilkenny's win (In the All-Ireland Hurling Final)!"
Rider of Winnie Minnie, Billy Lee has been taken to Our Lady Of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda as the racecourse doctor thinks he sustained a rib/lung injury.
Fran Berry (rider of Peccatorum) received a kick to his back but is reported to be ok as is Emmett McNamara, who rode Caracal.
Donal Murphy
