Allegio just holds on under Heffernan

Allegio recorded his first career success, as he just held on to take the International Hotel Handicap.

Placed on his last two starts at Listowel and Tipperary respectively, the Denis Hogan trained four-year-old certainly wasn't winning out of turn.

Available at 15/2 in a place this morning, the son of Galileo came in for plenty of market support, opening on-course at 6s, touching 4s, before going off at just 9/2 under Seamie Heffernan.

Having tracked the leaders in the early stages, the Ray Treacy owned bay soon improved into second.

He went to the front under two furlongs out and was soon ridden, keeping on well inside the final furlong to hold off fast finishers Avalanche (16/1) and Mr Ormsby (16s this morning and from 9s to 7s on-course) by two short heads.

The easy to back runner-up didn't have the clearest of runs from two furlongs out, but kept on well once in the clear inside the final furlong, ultimately having to settle for second under Wayne Lordan for Thomond O'Mara.

The hat-trick seeking Path Of Silver was sent off the 4/1 favourite and she finished sixth under Danny Sheehy for Dick Brabazon.

Hogan, who was recording his fourth win of the month, said afterwards: "He's a lovely horse and is obviously by the right sire!

"I was just worrying was he going to be a victim of finishing third and fourth and he deserved that. He should have won his maiden here but was boxed in on the rail and Seamie (Heffernan) came in and put his hands up and has put it right today and kicked at the right time and just held on.

"It's great for Ray Treacy who flew into Farranfore at lunchtime and is based in Bedfordshire but is originally from near me at Cloughjordan. He has three or four horses with me and is a great supporter of mine.

"My horses are in good form and it will be a long week here hopefully. We were thinking of running him in the mile handicap at Galway next.

"Colm Sharkey, who buys some horses for us, picked him up at the Doncaster Horses In Training Sale.

"He phoned me and said he had an unraced Galileo from David O'Meara's who David thought was a bit weak and you could do worse than put him away and could be a bumper horse.

"But when we started to gallop him, he had too much speed for a bumper, so we won't complain - he was a steal for E5,000."

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards interviewed J.A. Heffernan, rider of Allegio, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that J.A. Heffernan was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive frequency. They, therefore, suspended J.A. Heffernan for 1 raceday having taken into consideration his previous record and allowing for exceptional circumstances in this situation. .

S. Foley, rider of Yamato trained by M.Halford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount ran short of room in the latter stages of this race.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes