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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Arena gets bumper in stewards room

Thu 24th Mar 2016, 18:02

Cant Wait (white sleeves/red cap) is challenged by Arena Seven (right)Cant Wait (white sleeves/red cap) is challenged by Arena Seven (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

There was a thrilling finish to the Littleton Flat Race at Thurles with Arena Seven getting the race following a stewards enquiry having just failed by a nose after meeting some interference.

The Gillian O'Callaghan-trained gelding was an unconsidered 33/1 chance on his debut here but made rapid progress from rear approaching the straight under Paul Bannon.

Tom Hogan 's Cant Wait (20/1) led over a furlong out for Declan Queally but drifted left under pressure across Arena Seven.

The latter finished well to get within a nose at the line and would have been up in another stride or two.

The placings of the first two were reversed after the enquiry, with Bobo Mac a length and a half back in third.

Queally was cautioned by the stewards for careless riding after taking his good record into account.

Skryne amateur Bannon (22) has been with O'Callaghan for about a year, and rode his first winner for the yard on Mental Strength in a Fairyhouse bumper back in October.

Hogan said before the outcome of the enquiry, "She is a proper mare. The dam was placed in the Royal Bond and she'll be a black-type mare too.

"She had a stone bruise yesterday and fair dues to the lads in the yard who poulticed it and stood her in salt water last night and she was ok this morning. She'll go jumping hurdles next season."

(TW & AM)

1st
nose
33/1
Tote €37.10 €5.50
2nd
nose
20/1
€10.20
3rd
1.5L
11/4
€1.30
4th
nk
15/8Fav
About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.