Mint Man stays on well for Hayes The Pat Murphy-trained Mint Man (5/1) was a gutsy winner of the Tote Guarantee Never Beaten SP Handicap for rider Chris Hayes. The son of Due Diligence was third on his latest start in the Curragh. Ridden in rear throughout, he came into contention and led just after the two-furlong pole and stayed on well to defeat the Thomas Dowling-trained Hugos Girl by half a length. Speaking after the race, rider Chris Hayes said: "I thought he kind of hung fire with me the last day, so I asked the lads to change headgear. He was slow away, I went to drop him in. I thought we were going too slow after going a furlong, so I just eased him out. He can lean a little bit right, so I just kept going straight on him from where I was drawn. I couldn't feel anything coming but I felt he'd pick up if I did. Hopefully he'll win again." (Quotes from John O'Riordan)
