Howaya Aoife and Ricky Doyle © Photo Healy Racing
The Gerry Keane-trained Howaya Aoife sprang a 50/1 shock when lunging late in the WKD Handicap Chase at Downpatrick. Magic Sea had taken it up and held a clear lead going to the third last in the two-mile-three contest having been up there on a strong pace set by Drummullagh Rocky
The new leader started to come back to the field over the final fence and couldn't hold the late charge of Howaya Aoife, who got on top in the closing stages for a three length victory under Ricky Doyle.
Howaya Aoife was recording a third career success, having won a point-to-point and maiden hurdle previously.
She had been well beaten in recent runs, including when completely tailed off in heavy ground over hurdles at Gowran Park eight days ago.
Keane said: "They went hard in front and it probably suited her. She has been very disappointing, it was probably the ground the last day in the hurdle race. She ran a nice race in Thurles and we were hoping for a nice run in Navan.
"When we have run her left-handed, she just hasn't run well and she normally hangs the opposite way so you'd think it would suit her. Tracks like this suit her better.
"She is going to be covered now and after that we will race on for as long as we can. We'll hopefully come back here.
"We tried the blinkers the last day and tried the cheekpieces today to see if it would make a difference.
"She jumped great, she has ability and she's a good family. She won her point-to-point first-time out and lost her way a bit and we got her back and she won a hurdle. She has lost her way again and has come back.
"We hope being covered might sweeten her up as she is well enough handicapped."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
