Curragh handicap was a 'draw race' Thru And Thru Race four at the Curragh was the 25-runner Isuzu Ireland Handicap over seven furlongs and those in low numbers on the far side may as well have stayed at home, as this was as draw- determined a race as one will ever see. Thru And Thru, trained by Rory Devine for Danny Coogan, was first home from stall 24 and the five horses that followed him home came out of stalls 25, 20, 23, 28 and 26. The homebred Starspangledbanner gelding, placed four times from 12 previous starts, was making the breakthrough here and, having raced prominently under Luke McAteer, led over a furlong out to beat San Aer by a length and a half. Based in Bagenalstown, Devine has enjoyed a good time of things in the closing weeks of the season and he remarked That’s lovely and I’m delighted for the filly,” said Devine. “The owners aren’t here, they are in Austria at the moment. “She’s been very consistent and was consistent last year in maidens. “She loved that ground and I thought Luke was brilliant on her. Coming here we were a bit apprehensive. “She ran over a mile-and-one the last day and she arrived there at the seven furlong point looking like she was going to win and didn’t see it out. We dropped her back two furlongs and it worked a treat. “I’ll speak to Danny now and see what he says but I’d love to go over hurdles with her. I think she’ll pop a hurdle no problem and she loves that soft ground.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson
