Deo Bellator holds on for Neil Gault

Two north of Ireland mares had the race to themselves in the final few furlongs of three-mile handicap hurdle and fought out a great finish.

25/1 chance Deo Bellator ridden by her owner Neil Gault, hit the front on the final circuit and looked to be holding her only challenger Miss Us O on the run to the last.

In the last fifty yards Deo Bellator started to tie up and it looked, at first glance, that the late thrust of Miss Us O on the inside had carried her to victory. In fact, the photo-finish showed that Gault’s mare, trained by Michael Millar, had held on by a head. Roccorionach was eight lengths further back in third.

Asked if he thought he had held on, Gault, riding his second winner under rules, said: “I was getting worried and questioned him next door (Shane Fitzgerald on the second). I had it in my head that it was my race but usually the luck doesn’t go my way. Thankfully it did tonight.

“She was due a good run. She’s been in the form of her life the past two months and we thought we’d try an English stunt with her but she never ran a race every time we went across there.

"We weren’t getting into lots of races so we said we’d try three miles here and it worked out for us.

"They didn’t go overly quick and that’s why I ended up in front so early. I didn’t want to be there but she pulled me to the front. Once I got a bit of company towards the end it helped her to go forward a bit more. She was just tying up near the line and maybe in a better-run race she wouldn’t have got there.

“She’s a nice quick mare for 2m2f or two-four so that’s why we were worried about three miles.

“Ideally I would love to go to Downpatrick soon for (partner) Aileen (O’Sullivan) to ride her but that week we’re away on holidays so we’ll aim for something a few weeks after that."

Quotes from Alan Magee