Light Heavy (cheek-pieces, white & purple silks) begins his challenge© Photo Healy Racing
Furner's Green s supporters would have been happy that the favourite would collect in the Follow Leopardstown On Facebook Race for much of the straight, but they weren't factoring in the determined attitude of Light Heavy as that one in the end prevailed by half a length.
Equipped with a tongue-tie and cheek-pieces for the first time on outing number two, the successful chestnut son of Teofilo, knuckled down well when asked by Kevin Manning (got a 2 day careless riding ban here & narrowly denied on Dynamite Dixie in the previous contest). Furner's Green came down the outside from the back of the field in the straight, with what appeared a race winning challenge, but he couldn't raise his effort when required.
Gamble of the contest, the David Wachman-trained Alkazim (5/1 this morning into 2/1) had to settle for third, after taking a keen hold, a length and a quarter back.
Successful trainer and breeder Jim Bolger said: "A mile is the minimum for him and he'll step up from now on. He liked that faster ground and he'll improve throughout the year.
"We'll know more when we run him over a mile and a half. We could look at some of the Derby trials, something like the Ballysax." (GC & EM)
