Esperti (noseband) comes between rivals to win under Derek O'Connor© Photo Healy Racing
Esperti (7/1) became the latest winner to come out of a very strong Galway Festival bumper when landing the Buckley Agri Listowel & McHale Farm Machinery Flat Race.
Runner-up at Down Royal before finishing eighth in the race won by Level Neverending at Ballybrit (winner, second and seventh all won next time), the Presenting gelding was produced to lead inside the final furlong and kept on well to defeat Noble Birth by a length and a half.
1/1 favourite Le Nouveau well ahead of Esperti when third at Galway, couldn’t uphold the form on this occasion and finished sixth.
Winning trainer Peter Fahey said: “He did it nicely, his first run was very good and the form worked out really well but he ran very flat when we fancied him in Galway.
"He came back to form today and ran a cracker. Derek rode him with loads of confidence, he dropped him in and got him switched off.
"He has schooled, done loads and is ready to rock n' roll on but whether or not we go for a winners' bumper or not, I'll speak to the owners (Direct Bloodstock) and make a plan."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
