Givemethebeatboys (centre) and Shane Foley © Photo Healy Racing
Givemethebeatboys followed up a debut win at Navan a fortnight ago when getting up close home to land the Group 3 GAIN Marble Hill Stakes at the Curragh.
Five of the six runners had won on their only start and the odd one out, Valiant Force raced alone on the far side and set the pace until a furlong out.
The nearside quintet fought it out inside the final furlong with Shane Foley getting 11/1 chance Givemethebeatboys up to touch off Noche Magica by a head. His Majesty was just a head further back in third.
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington was represented by her daughter Kate who said, “It's great to kick off the day with a Group 3 winner. He was very professional out there and he out battled the other horses the whole way to the line.
“He was very impressive when he won at Navan, a furlong down you'd think 'how is this horse going to win?' and he put his head down and galloped the whole way to the line.
“He hated the ground that day and was green. He's learned an awful lot from that and will learn an awful lot from today, he'll be even more competitive the next day when we go to Ascot.”
The Bungle Inthejungle colt is owned by Theresa Marnane and her husband Con said, “We're over the moon. He was a cheap horse, Amy picked him out in Doncaster but he went lame, he got a foot abscess. I was gutted as he was my favourite horse at the sale but we bought him at Goffs then in October (for €11,000).
“We've won all the good races at Ascot with horses we've sold, or whatever, but we haven't got the Coventry yet. This is our fella.
“We'll be singing the song (Drift Away) from the stands if he wins!”
Paddy Power and Betfair both cut the winner into 20/1 (from 50/1) for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Quotes by Gary Carson
