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Well backed Norway lands Paddy Power Stakes

Norway and Seamie HeffernanNorway and Seamie Heffernan
© Photo Healy Racing

Market confidence in Norway proved well founded as he landed the Paddy Power Betting Shop Stakes at Leopardstown, giving Aidan O'Brien a treble on the card.

O'Brien saddled three in the mile-and-a-half Group 3 contest, all sons of Galileo, and Norway was the one for money, backed from 8/1 in the morning into 7/2 joint-favourite on course.

Seamie Heffernan produced the chestnut with a strong run inside the final furlong to claim front-running stable-mate Blenheim Palace in the final 100 yards.

Norway kept on well close home for a length-and-a-quarter success. Buckhurst the other 7/2 joint-favourite, won a close battle for the runner-up spot.

The winner had been placed three times this season, including when third in the Irish Derby.

“We're delighted with him. It always looked like it could work for him here. A mile-and-a-half is probably his trip and taking your time on him a little bit,” said O'Brien.

“We've probably been making too much use of him a few times recently but this suited him.

“He travels well, quickens well, but when he gets there he doesn't do a lot.

“He's a horse that is probably going to get better, he's going to be better next year.

“We had him in Australia but I don't think he's going to get in. I'd be viewing him as a next year horse really.

“He's a lovely horse to have, fast ground, a mile-and-a-half and he can travel and quicken.

“There are going to be a lot of places to suit him. He could travel a little bit at the end. He could go to Hong Kong or America.”

1st
7/2JFav
Tote €4.50 €1.50
2nd
1.25L
7/2JFav
€1.70
3rd
nk
20/1
€4.70
4th
shd
7/1
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.