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Jockey Angle - Irish Champions Festival Review
Last weekend’s showcase meetings at Leopardstown and the Curragh delivered some spectacular performances by some outstanding horses in front of solid crowds - 11,516 Leopardstown and 8,801 Curragh - but it always leaves a sour taste for me when I see a jockey rewarded for breaking the rules.
Shane Foley picked up 11 days of suspensions for his riding of Hotazhell in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes, but that won’t bother him in the slightest as he notched up the biggest win of his career.
By Gary Carson - SHANALA (7) can make the breakthrough here. The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly has been knocking on the door and wasn’t beaten far when third at Navan a fortnight ago. A similar effort may be enough to get the job done now. The handicapper has her top-rated with a mark of 76, 2lb above obvious rival Noble Honour. This Siyouni filly was placed on her first three starts but disappointed after running freely on her handicap debut at the Curragh back in mid-July. Emily Estherfaye ran a solid race, at a massive price, in Cork last time and is another that has to come into calculations.
