Chris Hayes pushes out Footprint to win at Leopardstown © Photo Healy Racing
Pat Martin’s admirable five-year-old gelding Footprint – who had been in the first three in 14 of his 35 races – secured his third career victory in the “Roy Seven” Rated Race over seven furlongs at Leopardstown. Battle Of Saratoga was sent off 2/1 favourite to give Aidan and Joseph O’Brien a Foxrock treble, but after cutting out the pace he weakened rapidly two furlongs out to trail in last of the six runners.
Chris Hayes on board Footprint got a good run up on the inside of Battle Of Saratoga and hit the front a furlong from home. He kept his mount up to his work to score by three parts of a length from Daring Man (10/1) and Ross Coakley.
The winner was punted down from 6/1 this morning and won at 7/2. This was Navan trainer Pat Martin’s sixth winner in the last two weeks.
Michael Graham (on course reporting by Gary Carson)
