Malbay lands massive gamble in Killarney opener

Malbay Madness landed a massive gamble in the opening race of the Killarney August Festival, the Irish EBF Supporting Irish Champions Weekend Nursery Handicap.

Trained by Eddie Linehan, the bay gelding was given an initial mark of 49 after finishing down the field on his first three starts, beating just four horses in total.

Available at 18/1 in early shows, the son of Wings Of Eagle (a first winner in Ireland for the Epsom Derby winning sire) came in for strong market support and went off the 15/8 favourite under Wayne Lordan.

Settled behind the leaders, he was ridden from early in the straight and briefly appeared to be struggling. However he began responding to pressure with over a furlong to race and hit the front inside the final 150 yards.

Soon strongly pressed by Approaching Bear the pair had a ding-dong battle in the closing stages with just a nose separating them at the line.

Jake Coen was aboard the runner-up for Joseph O'Brien, with this one returned a 9/2 chance. Ard Mhacha who was the market leader in early shows, was pulled out lame.

"I don't know where that kind of price (15/8) came about but we were hopeful," the winning trainer said.

"There aren't many races for two-year-olds rated that low (49, racing from 7lb out of the handicap) in Ireland and it's great he got a chance and wasn't balloted.

"Breeze-ups is my thing and buying and selling yearlings for other people but I thought he looked like a racehorse at the sales last year and bought him for 4,000 guineas in Tattersalls Book 3.

"We have the license at home purely if we don't sell one and this horse didn't get into a breeze-up sale. It's great and he'll improve again."

"He got a knock after his last run after getting a fall in the yard and got a load of scratches and got three weeks off. He came back and was working well with a horse rated higher than he was and I didn't think he'd get as low a mark as that (49) to be honest.

"I said to Wayne to ride him with confidence and that we were hopeful. I think he is a horse with a future and I think he'll be better at 1m 2f and will be a nice horse for three-year-old hurdles next year.

"He was meant to have a claiming jockey on but the same claimer decided not to ride him on the morning of declaration so I enquired into getting Wayne and I'm glad I had him. He made the difference."

Linehan added: "I'm coming back here on Saturday in Killarney to get married to Ellen O'Flynn so it is a great start to the weekend!"

STEWARDS REPORT

The Stewards requested a report from Edmond Daniel Linehan, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Malbay Madness, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that this horse was off injured for a number of weeks since his last run. Today the step up in trip combined with his liking for the ground in an ordinary race may have accounted for his apparent improvement in form. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation offered.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes