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Story stays on best to score again for Gibney

Story Rory and Darragh O'KeeffeStory Rory and Darragh O'Keeffe
© Photo Healy Racing

The Tom Gibney-trained Story Rory stayed on best on the run-in to claim the Francie 'Banger' Burns Handicap Hurdle at Sligo.

The veteran Snugsborough Benny kicked for home two from home and looked to have flown in the two-and-a-half mile contest.

He ran down the last, and was untidy, though and Darragh O'Keeffe got a good tune from Story Rory on the run-in as he got up for a length-and-a-half win.

The 5/1 winner was also successful at Ballinrobe back in late May before finishing third at the same venue last month.

Gibney said: " He travelled everywhere and jumped very well. Darragh, as per usual, gave him a peach of a ride.

"The trip was a little bit shorter than when he won at Ballinrobe but that wasn't going to be a problem.

"He's a lovely straight-forward horse and hasn't put a foot wrong since we got him, bar the first day when I ran him without a tongue-tie. I'm not sure how much improvement he has in him but there's only one way to find out and we'll keep going with him.

"I thought it looked a very competitive race and I was wondering should I have waited for an easier option, but he did it well and I'm thrilled to get another win with him."

(Quotes by Mark Nunan)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.