Hagan off the mark with Badger Daly

John Hagan, Shane Gray, Badger Daly and D J Hagan
(Healy Racing Photos)

This Celtic Swing gelding, had a go in point-to-points himself, but he's found his true vocation now, judged on this win, achieved over a mile. He made his ground from behind entering the straight, and he got to the front under two furlongs out. To his credit, from there home, the six-year-old, equipped with a tongue-tie, kept going well to hold Vespertine by two and three parts of a length.

Badger Daly finished in front of some useful sorts when better than mid-field at Gowran six days ago and he wasn't ignored at fancy prices this morning before drifting out from 8/1 to 12/1 on track.

Hagan is based near the Beehive Pub, a well-known landmark on the N11, in Brittas Bay and he was head-lad to Colm Murphy for three years.

He said: "I'm in my second year with a National Hunt licence and I only have my flat one for the past six weeks. I have five or six in training and Badger Daly is my only flat horse.

"My neighbour (breeder John Cullinan) gave him to me and I was full-sure he'd win one day at Gowran but we found he had a palate problem so that's why we took out the flat licence to try him on the level.

"We'll keep him to a mile on good ground over the summer now." (MG & EM)