Starford leads home O'Brien 1-2 in Alleged Stakes The well backed Joseph O'Brien trained Starford led home a stable 1-2 when seeing off Beset to win the featured Group 3 Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Alleged Stakes at the Curragh. Only fifth in a premier handicap here last time, the Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd owned gelding was backed from 33/1 into 9/1 to land a first stakes win. Held up in mid division by Scott McCullagh, the gelding closed up to track the leaders over a furlong out. Coming through to challenge Beset inside the last 200 yards, Starford led close home to win by three-quarters-of-a-length. “He’s a good horse and he was very progressive last year,” said O’Brien. “He had a nice run from a bad draw in the handicap here on his first run. “He had a bad draw again today but we let him take his chance. Scott got a fantastic spot from the draw, got the rail run around. “The bottom line is that he’s a smart horse. He handles soft ground well and had the benefit of a run, which is always a help at this time of year. “He quickened up well. I’d say a mile-and-a-quarter is a good trip for him, I’m not sure how much further than that he wants to go. “I’m delighted to get a nice winner for the Newtown Anner team and hopefully his best days are yet to come.” On Beset, he added: “She ran great. It’s a group placing for a filly with a big pedigree. She ran right up to form so I’m very happy with her.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
