Loch Garman and Kevin Manning© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Jim Bolger has a particularly hot team of two year olds this year and added another smart one to the team sheet at Navan today, when Loch Garman made a winning debut in the Irish Tote Betting Now Available In Paddy Power Shops Maiden.
Ridden by Kevin Manning, the son of Teofilo moved to the front two and a half furlongs out. However the winner looked a sitting duck at the furlong pole as 4/5f Indian Chief loomed up with his challenge under a motionless Joseph O'Brien, matching at 1.01 in-running on Betfair.
Some may criticise O'Brien for not kicking on earlier on Indian Chief but, inside the final furlong, the winner found far more under pressure, quickening like a smart horse and in the end won well by two and a quarter lengths.
Bolger was represented by his travelling head lad Ger Flynn who stated “Loch Garman is a late maturing horse and Kevin (Manning, winning jockey) liked the way he did it . He quickened away out of the dip and while he got through that ground, he'd appreciate it better.
“He's a nice one to look forward to over the winter, is a nice big horse who should make a nice 3yo.”
Stan James introduce the son of Teofilo into their Derby betting at 40/1.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
