Gamble landed as Eleuthera just gets up

Eleuthera landed a gamble in the second divide of the Racing Again August 16th Handicap, as he just got up to score under Donagh O'Connor.

Twice successful in the UK when trained by Kevin Ryan, the chestnut five-year-old had been disappointing on the all-weather since joining Johnny Levins late last year.

Available at 12s this morning, the son of Bahamian Bounty was as high as 9/1 on-course, before he was strongly supported into 9/2 favouritism.

Settled towards rear of mid-division, he made ground on the inner as they approached the straight.

He was ridden behind the leaders from two furlongs out, and stayed on best from the furlong pole to lead on the line. Busy Bush who also kept on well inside the final furlong, was a short head back in second under Danny Sheehy for Jim Gorman at 16/1 (from 20s). Harry Speed (12s to 9s) completed the placings a nose away in third for Ronan Whelan and Garvan Donnelly.

The likely favourite Alans Pride was a late withdrawal due to being lame.

Levins said afterwards: "I can take absolutely no credit for that. He was beaten everywhere bar the line. Donagh was fantastic on him.

"He is a nice horse and we had been campaigning him on the all-weather. Whether he like that surface I'm not sure.

"Donagh said he was loving the rain softened ground there. Whether we go back to the all-weather I'm not sure, we might keep him on the turf for now.

"We'll get him home and see how he is in the morning before deciding whether to run him again at Fairyhouse. He'll tell us how he is in the morning.

"He is owned by Rory Browne who is an Irish man based in Germany."