Fort Vega's consistency sees him scoop a big pot Sheila Lavery's Fort Vega (13/2) built upon two solid runner-up finishes to deliver in the Mallow Handicap over seven furlongs in Cork. The five-year-old Lope de Vega gelding made progress from off the pace two furlongs down and he was driven by Rory Cleary to challenge racing to the final furlong. He led narrowly at that marker and asserted in the closing stages to roll home by a length and three-quarters in this €100,000 contest. Heavenly Power came through for second at 12/1 and was a neck in front of Barbapapa (14/1) with Moltophino another neck away in fourth at 10/1. Cleary said: "He had the form as his last two runs were very good and the trip and conditions suited, so I was lucky to get the ride on him. "He has been tried over a mile, but I think he is a true seven-furlong horse and it was a lovely race to ride in as we went even fractions and he got a smooth run through and did it well." Fort Vega had been placed on his last three starts - third at the Curragh and runner-up twice at Limerick and Leopardstown. Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
