McCreery takes Cork feature to double up

Willie McCreery doubled his score at Cork in the featured Navigation Stakes with the Billy Lee-ridden Up Helly Aa (11/4 favourite).

The least exposed runner in the field took his form figures to ‘2121’ in the Listed heat, needing every bit of the extended mile to beat fellow fancied runners Pincheck (9/2) and Laughifuwant (7/2) by a neck and a length and a quarter. Amedeo Modigliani had no room to manoeuvre in the final quarter mile. He ended up an unfortunate fourth, half a length back.

McCreery had earlier taken the opening maiden with Lustown Baba (Leigh Roche).

Up Helly Aa, by Galileo out of Fiesolana is certainly bred for this company and better and McCreery reflected: "He is a Galileo and he settles and a mile or 1m2f next year, I wouldn't worry. The mare won the Matron over a mile and this fellow will get stronger next year, I would hope.

"He is still only a baby but has a great mind and he came down here and was looking around. I told Billy to give him a wake up call going down because he thought he was down here for an easy day out but he learned a lot today and I'm delighted he won.

"He finished lovely there and Billy was patient but had to force him out through a gap and did everything well.

"He can step up next year and has options now.

"Once I have him in the yard we can dream and he is one that gets you up out of bed in the winter time."

D. O'Brien, rider of Amedeo Modigliani trained by A.P.O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount got no run.

The Stewards enquired into possible interference in the closing stages involving Amedeo Modigliani, ridden by D. O'Brien, placed fourth, Laughifuwant, ridden by C.T. Keane, placed third, Pincheck, ridden by S. Foley, placed second and Up Helly Aa, ridden by W.J. Lee, placed first, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the Judge's placings and took no further action.

(TW & EM)