Aingeal makes all in the opener at Leopardstown

An Aingeal Dubh made all to take the opener at Leopardstown this evening, the Horseraces S.A. Of Greece Irish EBF Claiming Race.

Sixth, sixth, and fourth on his first three starts, the Paddy Twomey trained colt was sent off a 13/2 chance this evening under Billy Lee.

Owned by Ennistown Stud, the grey victor was sent straight to the front, and soon raced in a clear lead.

He was ridden a furlong and a half from home, and kept on well inside the final furlong to hold off the effort of Gold Jasmine (7s to 4s on-course) by half a length. Vhagar was sent off the 11/8 favourite, but he was in trouble from early, and finished a well-beaten fifth under Donnacha O'Brien for his brother Joseph.

"He's come on from every run. He's a big horse, a big baby, he's improved from every run and needed every run," said Lee.

"The visor has helped to make him concentrate. He'll be a lovely horse next year, in time, when he goes up in trip.

"He's not really lazy but just wasn't concentrating. He didn't learn from his first run to his second run so we decided on the third run to put visor on him. It helped and has done the trick today.

"He was getting more lonely then anything and when he felt the other horse coming he went forward a little bit more.

"I had a job pulling him up and he's definitely a next year horse."

STEWARDS REPORTS

A.C. Persse, rider of Rosselini (GB), trained by Augustine Leahy, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount checked of its own accord and collided with the running rails.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Vhagar, trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards, and reported the animal to be slightly lame post race.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson