Gracesolution in front where it counts© Photo Healy Racing
After a double in Ballinrobe yesterday evening, 7lb-claimer Jake Coen repeated the feat in Sligo when partnering Gracesolution to victory in the extended 10 furlong handicap.
His mount began her forward momentum at the three pole as she moved into contention towards the outer of the field.
She was pushed along in third inside the final quarter of a mile and worked her way to a narrow lead over a furlong from home.
She was soon ridden by Coen and stuck to her guns at the business end to prevail by three quarters of a length at 15/2. Prominent-racer Barretstown had to settle for second at 11/1, a head in front of gambled-on 9/4 favourite Red Ball Of Fire who dwelt at the gates before recovering. She held every chance on the rail in the final furlong but couldn't get on terms.
Trainer Ross O'Sullivan said: “She ran very well in Navan when the ground was probably a bit on the quick side for her. Today there was more give in the ground. We were a little bit wide all the way from our draw but there’s nothing you can do about that around here.
“Jake is flying and she needed every bit of the 7lb off her back.
“She’s a grand, honest filly. I was running her in bumpers and she wasn’t getting home. She was a little bit harder on herself at that stage and maybe she has learned to race a bit better now, so you wouldn’t mind stepping her up in trip a little bit, maybe up to a mile and a half at some point.
“Her owner is a Roscommon man so he’s delighted and he didn’t have to come too far."
Coen was also successful on Craft Irish in race three on the card.
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
