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Stag Night holds on to win for Lee and McCreery

Stag Night and Billy Lee right Stag Night and Billy Lee right
© Healy Racing Photos

Local trainer Willie McCreery was amongst the winners as Stag Night just held on close home to claim the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Handicap at the Curragh.

Prominent throughout under Billy Lee, the 3/1f led at the halfway stage of the race.

Strongly pressed by Likedbymike inside the final furlong, the Mrs Amanda McCreery owned gelding did enough to secure a short head victory.

“He deserved that, he’s been consistent here this year,” said McCreery.

“I must thank Brendan Curley who was in this morning fixing up his feet. I’m delighted for him and for the lads in the yard, they look after him. He’s a favourite in the yard.

“I told Billy to sit him in today and I’m glad he listened to my instructions and did the total opposite!

“He said he hit the gates really well and he said if he had pulled him back he would have been wasting what he had already gotten. He had them all, bar one, stretched at halfway.

“He’s a good, honest, oul divil. The only thing that’s stopping him are his feet. He’s like a fella with bunions or something. He gets little sores on his feet and he backs off when the ground gets quicker.

“To me he’d like quicker ground but he can’t handle it, he gets quarter cracks.

“We’ll look for another five furlongs here, because it’s the best prize-money in the country. He likes it here so why not.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.

1st
3/1Fav
Tote €4.00 €1.50
2nd
shd
9/2
€1.90
3rd
3.25L
4/1
€1.50
4th
3L
40/1
About John O'Riordan
John has worked for the Press Association since 2022. He also writes a weekly column for The Irish Field and is a regular contributor to the Irish Racing Yearbook. He has previously written for the Racing Post, Irish Examiner and Irish Daily Mirror. He has been involved in racing for over three decades; having experience as a syndicate member, sole owner and breeder.