Shu Lewis, left, pips Arctic Fire in Killarney© Photo Healy Racing
The perils of betting on photo finishes were brought into focus again as Arctic Fire got nailed on the line by Shu Lewis in Killarney.
The exchange market quickly had Arctic Fire as the 1/2 favourite to prevail and from the camera angle available it seemed that he had, however, Shu Lewis got up by a nose on the outside.
Arctic Fire had finished second to Lac Fontana in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March before winning a novice hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. Willie Mullins had enlisted Pat Smullen for this mile and six race.
Smullen set out to make all, but couldn’t shake off the attention of Shu Lewis. Seamie Heffernan’s mount looked held in the final furlong, but she was galvanised to surge up on the outside and win by the shortest margin.
Handler Monica Dowdall Blake said: “She wasn’t right last year, but she always does her best.”
Shu Lewis didn’t go unbacked as the 9/2 on course was snapped up down to an SP of 7/2. Arctic Fire was the solid 8/13 favourite.
Shu Lewis last ran in November in Dundalk. The eight-year-old mare’s career highlight came when beaten less than five lengths by Royal Diamond in the Irish St Leger of 2012. This was her fifth career victory. Her first three runs in bumpers saw her win them all.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
