Confidence High and Billy Lee are clear from David Garrick and Mark Gallagher© Photo Healy Racing
On his first start since August Confidence High belied a 28/1 starting price to convincingly land the Leopardstown Handicap under Billy Lee.
There were winning margins not usually associated with a 45 to 70 event such as this.
However there is always the potential for big improvers in three-year-old only events and Confidence High beat David Garrick by three and a quarter lengths.
There was a gap of four and a half lengths then, to Star Of Cashel in third.
“He did it well. He was a horse we liked last year, and we named him appropriately, but he disappointed us,” said winning trainer Andy Oliver.
“Anybody that rode him said that he was a lovely horse. We finished him early, gelded him, and just gave him time.
“The delay in racing might have worked in his favour. He delivered, you can never be confident until you get to the racecourse.
“I'm very happy. It was a nice straight-forward ride and I'm delighted.
“He's in again Sunday so he could come back here and then we'll go from there.
“He's a horse that I hope has a future, we certainly like him. He has a good attitude, is a good mover and a very straight-forward horse.”
R.P. Whelan, rider of Cindy Bear trained by Jack W. Davison, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was unruly in the stalls and stopped quickly.
G.M. Ryan, rider of Village Rock trained by T.G.McCourt, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount never travelled.
At the request of the Stewards, J.A. Heffernan, rider of Ohio State (USA), trained by A.P.O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount, when asked to quicken, met with slight interference which hindered his run.
At the request of the Stewards, M.P. Sheehy, rider of Funny Little Ways trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that he lost his irons in running after one of his leathers came undone.
(GC & EM)
