Goal Exceeded rewards favourite backers Goal Exceeded was given a confident ride by Adam Caffrey to claim the extended seven-furlong handicap at Leopardstown. The 11/4 favourite had a wall of horses in front of him inside the final quarter of a mile, but began to cut a swathe through the field while still travelling well. He availed of a lovely split at the furlong marker to challenge between horses and shot into the lead in the closing stages. The five-year-old gelding ran on well for Caffrey to win comfortably by two and a quarter lengths from 11/1 Send Harry. Mickey The Steel was another length and a half away in third at 20/1. Ado McGuinness said: "He wasn't winning out of turn. He was being a little bit frustrating after last year. He won a good race up the Curragh on Guineas weekend. He's been consistent since he came back in. "I thought the ground was going to be a bit too lively for him, but he just about got away with it. "We'll maybe go back to the Curragh next week. There's a couple of races there that might suit him. There's a six and a seven (furlongs). We might go back there. We'll see what the handicapper does with him. He's well capable. He's a fairly good horse on his day. "Adam gave him a lovely ride. We had a lovely draw and, then he dropped him right in and, he was very patient on him. He got a lovely split up now, but it was a very good ride there tonight. "Thanks be to God he got his head in front for the lads. We'll look at the Curragh next weekend and see. Hopefully he'll be alright." Additional reporting by John O'Riordan
