Marlos Moment and Chris Hayes on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
Chris Hayes secured bragging rights in the Flat v National Hunt Riders Challenge Handicap at Roscommon when forging on with Marlos Moment
Based on placings in the race though, the national hunt jockeys pipped their counterparts 34-33.
Marlos Moment is ironically trained by ex-national hunt jockey Jim Culloty. He was noted making headway in seventh in a handicap hurdle at Galway last time out and was backed in from a morning price of 12/1 to an SP of 11/2 (paid 8.20 euro on the Tote) to do the business tonight.
Hayes was content to sit behind pace-setting Emmet McNamara on Articilitis He hit the front turning in to the home straight and galloped on strongly to the line to win by two and three parts of a length.
Articilits kept on for second at 12/1 and Gothen Niece at 5/1 under Michael Hussey rounded out the placings.
“I didn’t know much about the horse as I didn’t have him long, but I thought he had a chance at Galway, but the ground was maybe a bit soft for him,” Jim Culloty said.
“He was working very well so I thought he was well handicapped compared to his flat rating.
“He’ll probably stay on the flat and then go novice chasing. He’s run enough times over hurdles.”
The win was Chris Hayes' second on the card this evening after winning the opener on Spinacre Champion Boy didn’t live up to his name as the 3/1 favourite trailed in last of the 12 runners.
(on course reporting by Thomas Weekes)
