Levins has big plans for Nordic Passage

Nordic Passage came home best of all in the concluding five-furlong handicap at the Curragh.

He was held up by Donagh O'Connor before taking closer order in the final quarter of a mile.

The five-year-old gelding kept finding to dispute in the final furlong and stuck to his task well to prevail by half a length at 5/1. He was backed down from 12/1 this morning. Boughtinthedark the 7/2 favourite, took second, a nose in front of Master Matt (9/2) who was the horse reeled in by Nordic Passage.

“That was brilliant. It was very unfortunate last week the way the Scurry panned out, unfortunately the high draw for him was a very bad draw as he was left upsides in front and ran with the choke out,” said Johnny Levins.

“He's learning about sprinting, and we were adamant about dropping him back to five.

“I told Donagh going out 'you're on the best horse, give him an amount of time and see if he can quicken from the two pole to line. If he wins doing that then we are right in what we thought'.

“He did that and was half speeding. Donagh was very confident on him.

“I'm looking forward to him next year. I think I might work back from the Wokingham him.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson