Ever Present and Mikey McGuane on the up and up

Ever Present and Mikey McGuane followed up their course and distance success from three weeks back in the concluding Belfield (Q.R.) Race at Leopardstown.

The pair had struck here by six lengths on June 17th, and whilst it wasn’t as clear-cut this time, the Elusive Pimpernel youngster was good in beating mainly older rivals.

The Mrs Patino owned and bred five-year-old is trained by Jessica Harrington, and conceding weight to a few of them the well-supported 7/2 shot defeated the staying-on The Names Jock by half a length.

Ever Present had tracked the leaders and been fourth at the halfway stage.

Pushed along early in the straight, the winner went second over a furlong out, soon ridden and leading a hundred yards out, keeping on well to seal the deal.

“He likes nice ground. He won't be able to run in the amateur handicap at Galway because he hasn't run three times,” said Mrs Harrington.

“I don't know where we'll go next but we might look for another one of those races. He loves it around here so we might come back here. I presume he'll get a handicap mark now.

“Mikey has ridden three winners and they've all been on the one horse. He rides very well.”

(GC & EM)