Captain Cullen (centre) scores for Colin and Gerry Keane© Photo Healy Racing
Colin Keane continued his great run of success this season when teaming up with his father Gerry to take the Follow Roscommon On Facebook Handicap with Captain Cullen
The lead changed hands a number of times over the final furlong and a half with the winner just getting up in the final strides.
Keane had to switch the 14/1 chance off the rail in order to get a run, and weaved a path between horses to lead close home.
The four-year-old gelding had half a length to spare over He’s Got Rhythm (10/1), with the well-backed 4/1 favourite Toccata Blue just a head further back in third.
There was drama just after leaving the stalls in this seven-furlong event when top-weight Cash Or Casualty stumbled and unseated rider Ian McCarthy, who was soon back up on his feet.
Gerry Keane said, “He ran very free last Sunday, and the plan was to drop him in and switch him off. Colin said he would have been an unlucky loser today.
“He’s a good horse but difficult to keep right because he has problems with mucus, and has spent plenty of time out in the paddock. He may go to Tipperary next weekend.
Reflecting on a great season for his son that currently leaves him second in the apprentice championship with 27 winners, he added, “Colin’s very dedicated and rides well. He was very good at the pony racing and, while he was slow to get going this year, he was lucky to get into Ger Lyons’ yard and is having an excellent year. That’s his eleventh winner for me.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
