18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure

Madrid runner makes use of extra 'Leg room'

Duke Of Leggagh and Gary Carroll Duke Of Leggagh and Gary Carroll
© Photo Healy Racing

Last weekend's frustrations laid the foundation for trainer Mick Mulvany's Navan double today, as Sunday's runner-up Duke Of Leggagh (6/4f) made use of his 'well-in' status to land the Bective Restaurant Handicap. Tea Olive gave chase to Duke Of Leggagh in the home straight today but couldn't hold a candle to Sunday's Irish Racing Writers Madrid Handicap runner-up, who scored by seven lengths.

Mulvany's opening-race winner Seeingisbelieving finished second last weekend and thus, today, avoided a 4lb penalty for making a swift reappearance, with Duke Of Leggagh avoiding a 12lb rise following his quick turnaround.

“We were forced into running as the 12lb rise was going to be hard” reported Mulvany.

He added “Duke Of Leggagh is a lovely horse in the making and looks like a horse that will jump a hurdle as well. He's growing and developing all the time.

“It took a while last year for the penny to drop with him but it did in Galway and Gary (Carroll, completing a double for Mulvany) said there is still a bit left in him there so hopefully it's onwards and upwards."

“He wants that ground and he stays that trip well. I think he'll develop into a lovely three-year-old hurdler in time. His full-brother (Ideal Pal) won the novice handicap hurdle in Fairyhouse last year and he's a better horse than him.”

Regarding his handicap mark, he added “there isn't a lot I can do about that, I'll take the wins and worry about it after that.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
6/4Fav
Tote €2.50 €1.30
2nd
7L
13/2
€2.40
3rd
6.5L
10/1
€2.50
4th
3.5L
12/1
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.