Burren Song and Amy Jo Hayes win for trainer Andy Slattery© Photo Healy Racing
Burren Song completed a hat-trick when keeping on well under Amy Jo Hayes to win the Women's Irish Network For Racing Lady Riders Handicap at Leopardstown.
Following wins at Dundalk and Tipperary in recent months, the Andrew Slattery trained five-year-old was sent off a well supported 7/2 chance to win this competitive affair.
Always front rank under Hayes, the gelding led narrowly into the straight before holding the late burst of eventual runner-up Nibiru Supporters of the latter horse would have to count themselves unlucky, as try as she might, the gaps just didn't open in time for Maxine O'Sullivan.
“He likes to be let stride along like that, we were probably riding him wrong by holding him up,” said Slattery.
“Since we've let him use his stride he seems to be a bit better. I'd like to put him over two miles, I think he'll be better at two miles, and he might go to the big amateur handicap in Galway.
“Whether the handicapper will have him caught now, I don't know. The good thing is that he doesn't win by too far.
“He's progressing all the time and I might give him a run in a maiden hurdle between now and Galway.
“I'll talk to the owner, we might go for a two-mile handicap on Guineas weekend, and we'll see what he says. We have plenty of options, he's loving his racing and he's in a good place.
“It was actually Amy Jo that told me about this race last Saturday morning. She works hard so she deserves every ride she gets.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
