Koybig wins under Chris Hayes© Photo Healy Racing
Hot on the heels of two close second placings Chris Hayes brought up a quick Dundalk double aboard Koybig in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap.
The top-weight had to wait to get into the clear but once he had racing room the Kodiac gelding wasn't long about putting his stamp on proceedings.
Following up on his course and distance victory from 23 days back, the Derek Leonard-owned and Pat Murphy-trained five-year-old went on to defeat Complicit by a length and a quarter.
"He seems to be improving with the runs and he's enjoying it now. He seems to have gotten the hang of it again," said Murphy on the well-backed 11/8 scorer.
"He arrived nicely, after getting into a bit of bother, and he showed a bit of a turn of foot there so we're happy enough to keep him at the mile.
"Once he stays running like that we'll keep him on the go."
The Stewards enquired into an incident in the closing stages of this race involving Polymnia (GB), ridden by J.A. Heffernan, unplaced, Acari ridden by C.P. Hoban, placed fourth, World's Greatest (USA), ridden by S. Foley, placed third, Aunty Audrey ridden by P.J. Smullen, placed fifth and Duckanddive ridden by D.E. Sheehy, unplaced, where it appeared that interference may have occurred.
Evidence was heard from the riders concerned.
Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that any incident was accidental in nature and took no further action.
C.D. Hayes, rider of Koybig trained by P.J.F. Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount caught a heel in the straight.
(GC & EM)
