Parkers Hill and Ben Coen (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
Ben Coen came in for the winning spare ride on Parkers Hill in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Handicap at Dundalk tonight as the Johnny Murtagh trained colt left some unexciting recent form well behind him.
Declared jockey Shane Kelly, successful in the opener on Wild Shot was unable to do the 9st1lbs necessary for him to ride Parkers Hill and with Coen filling in, the pair scored a half length win over Shawaf
The son of No Nay Never was a useful Leopardstown maiden winner as a juvenile in June 2018 and while initially rated 83, an unsuccessful 2019 spell combined with a 12th place finish at the Co Louth venue on January 3 saw his rating fall to 68 for tonight's race.
Coen, riding his fourth winner for Murtagh, later stated “it was unfortunate for Shane Kelly that he couldn’t ride him.
“He pinged the gate and got a nice lead off Rory (Cleary, on Shawaf). I was actually there way too soon and the last half-furlong he was pulling himself up.
“Hopefully that can change his mind a bit that he’s after getting his head in front.
“The last couple of times he’d made the running and Johnny (Murtagh) said take your time on him and he enjoyed it.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
