Coumshingaun delivers over six furlongs in Curragh again

Coumshingaun held on in a thrilling head-bob finish to the Sherry FitzGerald Country Homes Handicap over six furlongs at the Curragh.

She has now won this race two years in a row and went off 9/2 favourite on this occasion, having been 10/1 last year.

The four-year-old filly showed good pace from the gates and raced prominently before travelling into a narrow lead a furlong and a-half out.

She battled away at the head of affairs, but Dandyville thrust home to force the photograph which Coumshingaun won by a nose from the 7/1 runner-up. Gabriella's Spirit (18/1) was just a head away in third.

Trainer Kevin Coleman said: “We were disappointed with her the last day at Gowran and the time before in Listowel but, if you don't win one day you'll win the next, and it's nice to get it here and I'm delighted.

“It's been a tough few days with travelling and I wasn't going to come today.

“She's hardy, you have to get her into the parade ring and she's tough work. In the stalls she's tough, so the race is the easy part.

“We fancied her, she works very well at home, the horses are running well and we got a bit of rain during the week. She just held on and it's great.

“The horses are going well in England, I'm struggling to get a few here and I'm glad she won.”

Jockey Nathan Crosse said: I was fairly confident (that she was up).

"Stalls are a big thing with this filly and Kevin spoke to me earlier about her. I spoke to Wayne Lordan as well. She had a little mishap when she first went in, but she calmed down in fairness to her.

"She pinged them well and I thought she was very good and gutsy at the line. She had been running well too. She had been very consistent this year, she's fit and well.

"Looking at the fancied ones - they were all drawn kind of 10, 11, 12 and 15, so I had in my mind I wanted to go left (from the stalls). The first five broke well."

The Raceday Stewards interviewed K.J. Leonard, rider of 13th-placed Navalny concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he was in breach of the regulation with regard to use of the whip when out of contention. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(b) by using his whip unnecessarily when his chance of winning or being placed was clearly gone. Having taken his record into account the Stewards suspended K.J. Leonard for two race days.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson