Cool hand Leigh & cheekpieces keep Henry Happy The application of cheekpieces and a cool ride by Leigh Roche proved just the trick as Happy Henry got off the mark at the 20th attempt in the Book Your Hospitality Now For Navan Racing Festival Handicap. The Willie McCreery-trained gelding was patiently ridden and was still in mid-division of the 21-runner field over a furlong out. However, the 12/1 chance quickened impressively between horses when asked for his effort and struck the front in the closing stages to score by three-quarters of a length. Hugo’s Girl took the runner-up spot with An Laochmor fading close home just a neck back in third and Thurso completed the places in fourth. McCreery said, “I was giving out about Leigh a furlong down, he was being held up, but sure it is the way he finished. "He loves that stiff five (furlongs) here. He has run well every time he has ran here. "We reared him and he has been on the farm a long time, and he has owed us that. We have been persistent. "I had him in a claimer and I took him out because I said he will win one, and I didn't want to lose him. "He's a big, strong boy and he is only learning his trade now. "I just thought with the blinkers, the minute he didn't see a horse, he stopped. He rocketed home, so I am going to keep the cheekpieces!" Quotes by Michael Graham
