Downforce leads Ecoeye home© Photo Healy Racing
Downforce allayed any fears over handling the testing ground in Sligo when finishing strongly to take the spoils in the Durkin Bros. Electrical Gurteen Handicap.
The four-year-old gelding was returned at 10/1 in this seven furlong race and brought up a double for Willie McCreery and Billy Lee.
He raced towards the rear and had three horses behind him at the halfway stage. He travelled sweetly outside the two pole but still had a wall of horses in front of him.
The son of Fast Company made headway to get closer approaching the turn in and then came wide into the straight in ninth.
He was ridden on the run to the final furlong and delivered his challenge in the final 150 yards. From there he galloped on resolutely and headed 3/1 favourite Ecoeye to win going away by a length and a quarter.
There was plenty of money in the morning for runner-up Ecoeye (9/2 to 3/1). Similar sentiments apply to third-placed Bainne who was backed from 13/2 to 4/1 before going off at 9/2.
Billy Lee said: "The old fears about the ground were gone away when I cantered him to the start - he floated away down and didn't mind it at all. I just bided my time and hoped for the best. I got a good, clean run through and got around the outside and he finished well.
"I just don't think he goes on the all weather, he has run there twice and he has run disappointingly twice. It is good to show that he is versatile on the grass. Between six and seven (would be his ideal trip). He has plenty of toe and likes to be ridden with a bit of patience. He has grounded it out more than picked up."
Willie McCreery said: “Billy gave him a great ride. He took the brave route and quickened up lovely in the straight. He’d been working well, although I’d say seven furlongs is as far as he’d want to go.
“The owner Donal Finnan was over for Punchestown but is on his way back to America. He’s from Kilcock but is based in New York.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
