Badger Daly and Emmet McNamara have their Gowran rivals well beaten off© Photo Healy Racing
A winner and placed at Gowran in the past, Badger Daly justified the confidence of those that backed him in from earlier offers of around 25/1 in places, to a returned 10/1, by taking the Like Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap.
Down to his course winning mark of 51, from July 2014, the Celtic Swing nine-year-old repeated his every post a winning one trick, this time under Emmet McNamara.
After going clear entering the straight, Badger Daly kept up a strong gallop to comfortably defeat Pure Drama by four and three parts of a length.
"He was unlucky last year as he won by too far. It was an awful bad race. He went up 15lb for winning a nine-runner apprentice race after he got first run on them," reflected winning owner/trainer John Hagan.
"He had his palate done before his last run. It had been two years since he had it done previously, and it was a problem as he wasn't finishing out his races. Hopefully he can win another one or two.
"I'm a full-time farrier and just have him and one other point-to-pointer. I got him for nothing out of a field as a three-year-old and he doesn't owe me anything. He pays for his nuts."
The Stewards requested a report from J.R. Hagan, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Badger Daly, placed first, as compared with its recent form.
The trainer reported that his charge had not been finishing his races well and consequently had a palate operation since his penultimate run. He was subsequently given a break before his recent run at the Curragh, when staying on well.
He added that the horse returned to form today having dropped to his previous winning mark. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation offered.
J.M. Conneely, rider of Doppler Effect (GB) trained by John Joseph Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung in running.
D.M. Grant, rider of Pure Drama trained by John Joseph Murphy, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumply slowly.
K.P. Moriarty, rider of Loughderg Princess trained by F.Costello, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount clipped heals and was nearly brought down on the first bend.
(GC & EM)
