The Christy Roche-trained Code Of The West gave Jody McGarvey his first winner when the pair took the two-and-a-half-mile chase at Down Royal from the game Vardas Supreme
The 21-year-old jockey from Coleraine, Co Derry was always travelling well on the JP McManus owned gelding and took up the lead going to the last before fending off the rallying Vardas Supreme by three parts of a length.
“He travelled so well but is a bit of a monkey. I wanted a lead going to the last. He half pulled up after the last but had enough in reserve.
“That’s my first winner and I have had 50 odd rides.”
The winner was returned at 7/2. Runner-up Vardas Supreme was 9/1 and Hidden Present who finished third , four lengths back, was 4/1. Lusiad was sent off the 3/1 favourite but finished seventh. He was driven along six out and could make no further headway. Jockey Conor Maxwell reported that he was never travelling. The veterinary report came back Post Race Normal on the horse.
Michael Graham
