Church Mountain and Joey Sheridan (left) stay on strongly © Photo Healy Racing
Church Mountain (12/1) made most to win the opening Kenny Galway Volvo 3-y-o Handicap in the hands of 5lb claimer Joey Sheridan.
The Pride Of Dubai gelding broke well from a wide draw and showed good early pace to get across to the rail after a furlong and take up the running.
He showed a good attitude to repel several challengers in the straight and crossed the line half a length and the same in front of Ten Ten Twenty (13/2) and Chavajod (also 13/2).
Fourth at Naas last time, this was a first win for Church Mountain who had been racing over further in recent starts.
Winning trainer Denis Hogan said: "That was great and Joey executed it well. We always liked this horse, from the time he ran as a two-year-old, but he's a massive big lad and he's still not the finished article.
“He's grown all year and he's babyish, you could see there he was very green in front. He needed to do that because he's a mile-and-a-quarter horse really.
“He had some hints of form, some nice runs staying on into fourth or fifth. Those three-year-old handicaps are so competitive.
“Today is the first day we made the running on him and it's been the making of him.
“Joey did a very good job on him and Joe Doyle deserves a lot of credit as well as he made the horse. He was very hard work when he came, he wasn't an easy ride, and Joe rides him every day and settles him.
“We needed to take a few pounds off him today and it's a team effort.
“We've schooled him over hurdles as well but we probably won't go that route this year. We'll let him mature first.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
