Lavery shines on Moscow

Declan Lavery may have some explaining to do in the morning after getting the better of a tight finish in the bumper at Galway.

The young 7lb claimer gave Moscow Mannon a polished ride as he denied Robin Angevin trained by his boss Willie Mullins.

Lavery, partnerning his second winner, kicked for home turning in on the Brian Hamilton-trained gelding but he looked a sitting duck as Robin Angevin cruised up in the straight.

The 11/8 favourite failed to pick up inside the final furlong, however and Moscow Mannon struck on gamely for a neck success.

"He's a smashing wee fella," said Hamilton of the winning rider.

"He's with Willie Mullins, so is in the right place. He's learning all the time. It's great experience riding out with Patrick, Ruby Walsh and the others.

"He's been with me since he was knee-high as his father helps out in the yard. He was absolutely brilliant and gave him the perfect ride.

"This horse is a grand type. I only had him 12 weeks before he ran in Down Royal. He was so straight forward and ran a blinder then.

"We had no great expectations then but we knew he wasn't too bad afterwards.

"We decided to give him a break after that and bring him here rather than run him at some of the summer tracks.

"He'll have another break now and we could bring him back for the meeting at Down Royal in November.

"We could go for a maiden hurdle or a winners' bumper there. That looked a reasonable contest today."

Gary Carson