Learntodiscover just holds Puerto Rico in tight finish A well backed favourite when running a huge race in third on his debut over course and distance last month, the Ger Lyons trained Learntodiscover stepped forward to land an initial success in the opening Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden at the Curragh. Sent off 7/2 this evening, the son of Havana Grey appeared to face a stiff task against the highly regarded 4/6f Ballydoyle runner Puerto Rico. Tracking the pace as Ennoble took them along under Dylan Browne McMonagle, jockey Colin Keane produced Learntodiscover to take over in front over a furlong out. Ryan Moore had yet to ask the market leader Puerto Rico for an effort but found himself trapped in a pocket as Keane kicked from the front. Once in the clear over 150 yards out, Puerto Rico flashed home but the line came just in time for the Mark Dobbin owned Learntodiscover who held on to score by a neck. “Box ticked, I’d say Ryan (Moore) was a little bit unlucky,” said Lyons. “It wasn’t a wow performance. He’s a horse that we like but I was probably a tad disappointed with the performance. “I didn’t like his head carriage in the last furlong, whether that’s conditions or whatever. “I don’t think he hit the line as strong as you’d like him to hit it if he’s going to go forward into the next level, so let’s just see.” When asked what the plans were now he added:- “We’ll go back to Glenburnie and dream about something and try and get him to the next stage, which I haven’t been doing greatly this year so I need to sort that out.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
