Sea Of Sands © Photo Healy Racing
The second split of the two-mile handicap hurdle went to 12/1 chance Sea Of Sands
The point-to-point winner, making his handicap debut, led two and kept on best under pressure to see off Hard Rain by half a length with longtime leader Will You Win back in third.
Unfortunately Danny Mullins, completing a double after Saylavee had to dismount the eight-year-old on the way back to the enclosures and winning trainer Martin Keoghan confirmed that it was bad news.
“He broke down and he's done now. He got hurt in Tramore about a year ago and we just nursed him back, we thought we'd get a run out of him and we got a couple of runs but he's gone now,” said Keoghan.
“He's right down on his fetlock, it's gone completely. He got the few pound in the bank for the father so I'm more than happy with that, it'll keep him happy.
“That's the way it goes. I only have one in training and that's it. I only have one or two runners a year and I've had a few point-to-point wins but that's my first on the track.
“He's a homebred so he might as well spend the rest of his life out in the field now."
Quotes from Gary Carson
