Indy Island gives chase to Well Joey© Photo Healy Racing
Stuart Crawford admitted to being a bit surprised after Indy Island stayed on strongly to land the spoils in the Sean Graham Bookmakers Maiden Hurdle at Down Royal. Well Joey looked in command going to the last in the two-miler but was chased down on the run-in by the 10/1 shot.
JJ Slevin’s mount kept on well in the closing stages to post a two-and-a-half length success.
The winner had taken a point-to-point at Taylorstown on decent ground last April and Crawford revealed that he had concerns about the going and trip today.
“Two miles was probably going to be short enough for her if that rain hadn’t come,” said Crawford.
“I sold Well Joey to Prunella Dobbs and I personally couldn’t see her beating him.
I thought that was the way it looked but he’s just tied up a little bit and she’s stayed on. She just has a wee bit more experience over hurdles.
“I’d imagine we’ll have to look over the water for mares novices. I think that’ll be our best chance of winning another one.
“The penalty structure is a bit better over there as after you’ve won one you can just go in as a normal novice.
“Here you’d have to go into a better grade of race and she’s not that type.
“She won a point-to-point on fast ground so we were actually thinking ahead to the summer and weren’t thinking about today. It’s nice to get a wee surprise.” Chesapeake was found to be clinically abnormal after puling up in the race.
