Aragorn Icon successfully followed up his victory at Tipperary just over a fortnight ago when again partnered by Colm O'Donoghue to take the John Buckley Auctioneers Handicap in game fashion.
The 5/2 joint favourite led about a furlong out in this extended mile event, and was driven out to beat the front-running Blackwitch Woman (7/1) by three quarters of a length with the well-backed Irish Reel (7/2-5/2jt fav) keeping on another half length back in third. Born To Excel totally missed the break losing significant ground and in the circumstances ran creditably in fifth.
Winning trainer David Marnane said: “I was disappointed when the handicapper gave him 9lb for his win the last day but as usual he proved me wrong. Hopefully he won't go up too much for that, and he'll go to Galway next.”
The four-year-old Tagula gelding carries the colours of Brendan Hopkins, the former CEO of Independent Media in Australia, with Bansha native Denis Tarrant and Marnane's wife Melanie also part-owners.
Alan Magee
