Target Acquired held off Indian Landing at Cork© Photo Healy Racing
The nicely supported Target Acquired survived a steward's enquiry before being confirmed the head winner of the Follow Cork On Facebook Handicap.
Chris Hayes (got a 3 day careless riding ban) did the steering on the Majestic Missile gelding for Tyrone trainer Andy Oliver. He led inside the final hundred yards and the 7/2 shot was all out close home to prevail by a head from Indian Landing
Winning trainer Andy Oliver said: "I saw the head-on and I thought it was six of one and half a dozen of the other. He's still a bit raw and green and he played up a bit at the start.
"Chris gave him a good positive ride. He's fairly ground versatile and I think he stays a mile.
"It's been well documented that we were refurbishing our gallops earlier in the year and we've been playing catch up ever since.
"It felt a bit like being at the bottom of a ruck getting a good chewing."
On the most prominent racer in his yard, First Cornerstone, Oliver disclosed: "He's still in the Irish Derby and I'll have to talk to the owners but they're a bit preoccupied until the first day of Ascot (Team Valor of course have Animal Kingdom in action). We'll sit down and talk about it then."
Meanwhile Conor O'Dwyer had the disappointing favourite, College Boy (5th). His reading of things was as follows: "Fran (Berry) said he travelled well into the straight but just flattened out a bit and maybe the handicapper has got a hold of him now.
"He had a bit of a break since Killarney so that shouldn't have been a problem and maybe we'll go back hurdling now." (AM & EM)
