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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Air Force Jet finds full thrust in closing stages

Sat 1st Jun 2019, 13:01

Air Force Jet, left, gets to grips with Southern HillsAir Force Jet, left, gets to grips with Southern Hills
© Photo Healy Racing

Air Force Jet justified 4/11 favouritism in the opening five-furlong maiden at Navan but not without giving his backers a few moments of worry.

Joseph O'Brien 's colt raced second to Southern Hills with a quarter of a mile to travel but soon came off the bridle as the leader attempted to assert in the final furlong.

Air Force Jet was switched out with 150 yards to go and zoomed home to get up in the final strides by a neck from his 2/1 rival.

Jockey Shane Crosse, fresh from a double in Down Royal yesterday, said: “He's a lovely colt. He was a bit unlucky the first day and today he knew his job a bit better.

“I thought I was in a bit of trouble coming down the hill but once he balanced himself up he hit the line well and won going away.

“He's still a big baby and once he puts it all together five will be no problem and six, I don't think, will be an issue either.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.