76/1 Curragh double for Halford/Foley Thoughts were with Danny Grant after his horrible fall from Waydownsouth in the early stages of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Ragusa' Handicap at the Curragh. Ultimately the spoils went the way of Michael Halford and Shane Foley with Shadagann, bringing up a 76/1 double for the pair. It was reported later that Grant was knocked out for two minutes, but was fully alert after, and was taken to hospital with suspected left wrist and lower back injuries. Meanwhile earlier on the mark with Dark Alliance, Foley got Shadagann home by half a length from Salthouse after the pair came close together in the closing stages of the mile and a half event. "His last two runs were good, especially at Cork, but he was creeping up the handicap and you're worried that he'll miss out on a good one. Shane said the loose horse helped him, and gave him something to aim at," said Halford. "I don't know how he got beaten in a maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe but we may go back for another one of those! Paul (Rooney, owner) loves Galway and he'll probably go for the good mile and a half handicap there on the Friday." The Stewards requested reports from a number of jockeys regarding the unseating of D.M. Grant, rider of Waydownsouth about a furlong and a half after the start of this race. The general consensus among the riders was that Waydownsouth clipped a heal and unseated, which the stewards confirmed using the video available to them as they were unable to interview D.M. Grant due to injury. C.D. Hayes, rider of Shalaman trained by Matthew J. Smith, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was hampered by the fall in the early stages of this race. (AM & EM)
