Peacehaven just gets up to deny Accalia

Peacehaven just got up to win the Kildare Post & kildarenow.com Apprentice Handicap, scoring under Denis Linehan for Johnny Murtagh.

Successful in a maiden over the course last month, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle was making her handicap debut this afternoon, and she was sent off the 3/1 market leader (from 7/2).

Settled behind the leaders, she was ridden over a furlong from home, and kept on well inside the final furlong, just getting up on the line to prevail by a nose.

The front-running Accalia was the one just denied, and he was returned at 8/1 under Tom Madden for John Hayden. Mr Bounty (11/2) completed the placings a further half a length back in third under Killian Leonard for Michael O'Callaghan.

Johnny Murtagh said afterwards: "She obviously likes it here. I was a bit worried about the step back to five furlongs but she is bred for it.

"It's great to have another winner, and we will look for a six furlongs handicap."

The winner is owned and bred by Ballygallon Stud Limited, and she is a half-sister to nine time winner Caspian Prince, and Group 2 winner Spirit Quartz.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee