Comfort Line & Gary Carroll lead home Ransom© Photo Healy Racing
Comfort Line geared up for a tilt at the Cambridgeshire at the Curragh on Saturday, as he claimed the www.navanracecourse.ie Handicap.
Last successful at Gowran in October of 2020, the Mick Mulvaney trained five-year-old was since placed in the Irish Lincolnshire both in 2021 and again this year.
A solid third at Fairyhouse on his penultimate start, he disappointed at Galway most recently and was sent off a 16/1 chance this afternoon.
Settled behind the leader in second, the son of Alhebayeb got to the front from the two-furlong pole and was soon ridden, keeping up the gallop all the way to the line, coming home a neck to the good.
The fast-finishing Ransom (10/1) had to settle for second under Joey Sheridan for Denis Hogan, while Apple Of His Eye (6/1) and Tyrconnell (16/1) were third and fourth respectively. Snag It was sent off the 9/2 favourite and he finished a disappointing sixth under Declan McDonogh.
"The handicapper gave him a chance and I was disappointed in Galway where he got an outside draw and didn’t get a chance," Mulvany said.
"He's in on Saturday and we are going to run him all going well. He has a good draw (stall two) and we are hoping he'll jump out.
"In an ideal world I'd like some rain but you just have to work with what you have.
"Big Baby Bull also runs in the Cambridgeshire but he has a bad draw (stall 25). I'd be hopeful of a big run from him as well and he was a bit unlucky in Galway."
STEWARDS REPORTS
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Bridgehead trained by Noel Meade, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
The Stewards requested a report from Michael Mulvany, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Comfort Line, placed first, as compared with its recent run in Galway on 28th of July where it was 13th of 17 runners. Michael Mulvany reported that his charge was drawn on the wide outside and could not get in after the break. He further added that having not gotten a good position from the break the race went against Comfort Line and he ran no race as a consequence. Having considered the explanation the Stewards noted the content of the report.
J.M. Sheridan, rider of Ransom (GB) trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung badly left in the final two hundred yards and the whip was used for corrective purposes.
D. McMonagle, rider of Dreal Deal trained by Ronan M.P. McNally, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was a touch awkward after breaking from stalls and stumbled as a result.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
