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Ballynacree springs 40/1 shock

Ballynacree (blue cap) comes with a surging late runBallynacree (blue cap) comes with a surging late run
© Photo Healy Racing

Ballynacree showed an impressive turn of foot to make a winning debut in the four-year-old maiden hurdle at Gowran Park.

The Christy Roche-trained newcomer was sent off the outsider of three JP McManus runners but defied a starting price of 40/1.

There were plenty in with chances going to the second last and Enchanted Forest held the call going to the final flight.

Jody McGarvey soon produced Ballynacree to challenge, however, and the Westerner gelding sprinted clear on the run-in to record a six-length success.

"He did it well and quickened up well when the penny dropped," said McManus' racing manager Frank Berry afterwards.

"He's a nice horse with a bit of size to him."

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.