Bay Hill with Padraig Roche (left) and Darragh O'Keeffe© Photo Healy Racing
It just wasn’t title contender Colin Keane’s day at Thurles, as he was nailed on the line aboard 6/4 favourite Harvest Bow in the 2m www.Thurlesraces.ie Handicap.
Noel Meade ’s mare, a recent winner over hurdles at Ballinrobe, set out to make all and only had the doughty Bay Hill to worry about turning for home.
She looked to be holding that rival most of the way down the home straight (6,000 Euros traded at 1.01 on the exchanges) but the tenacious grey wouldn’t go away and Darragh O’Keeffe landed him in front in the last stride.
To compound matters for the runner-up, she was fourteen lengths in front of the third home Vitudurum (16/1), which won’t make things any easier for her in future Flat assignments.
The winner is a wonderfully honest and versatile performer, this being his sixth Flat win to go with five over jumps.
"Darragh is a great rider and the 5lbs claim on the flat was grand, said winning trainer Padraig Roche.
“That was his first flat winner and Bay Hill is a right little horse. He is as honest as the day is long and that was his 11th win today; I could do with a few more like him.
"We'll keep him going and might go for a chase if the ground doesn't get too heavy, otherwise we could wait until next year."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
