Majenta lands morning-price gamble

Majenta landed several bets when winning a bunch finish to the mile and a half handicap at the Curragh.

Available at 25/1 this morning, she was backed down to 14/1 on the off and won by a length.

Fully five horses held chances inside the final furlong in a contest that would have delighted the handicapper.

Chris Hayes drove Magenta home from Golden Spear (11/2) who was short of room on the rail until delivering his challenge close home. Coolfighter (20/1) finished well for third, a short head off Golden Spear while Strandfield Lady at 33/1 came in fourth a neck away from third.

Successful handler Kevin Prendergast said: "She would have been a bit unlucky to get beaten. There was plenty of hassle in the straight but thank God she got the run. She had little problems but she is over it thank heavens."

This was Majenta's first run for 210 days. She was a former course and distance winner.

On Tamadhor who was sixth in the 1,000 Guineas, Prendergast said: "The lack of a run probably cost her a place. She's in the Pretty Polly and will go there next. I think she will get the trip."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee