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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Courage turned over at short odds

Tue 11th Jun 2013, 19:25

Faanan Aldaar takes them along at RoscommonFaanan Aldaar takes them along at Roscommon
© Photo Healy Racing

Punters got their fingers burnt again on Courage as the 2/5 favourite went down by a head to Faanan Aldaar in Roscommon’s two mile maiden hurdle.

This reversal made it four seconds in a row for the four-year-old trained by Charles Byrnes.

He headed Faanan Aldaar at the last, but was already deviating off a straight course as Davy Russell asked for more. This allowed the filly and Paul Townend to fight back on the inside to win by a head at 4/1.

There was a stewards enquiry as the first two came close during their battle for line, but the result stood.

Delighted winning trainer Philip Rothwell said: “Davy came on top of us as much as the other way around so hopefully she keeps it.

“The plan was to jump out and go a good gallop and use her experience. That’s why we had Paul up.

“Andrew Ring has been riding her and doing well on her. If she goes back to a handicap he’ll ride her again, but with making the running myself and the owners thought Paul had plenty of experience.

“The race in Listowel was a mess [fifth on June 3]. Everywhere she went she got into trouble. The winner got a bit of a freebie in front and all the fancied horse ran badly.

“She came out of that well so we decided to take our chance here.”

Courage traded as short as 1/50 on the betting exchanges before getting beaten. Shek O Lad took third place money, nine and a half lengths away at 33/1.

Philip Rothwell’s last winner at Roscommon was 46 runners ago.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.