Half Nutz and Wayne Lordan (light blue, in hood) win from Blairmayne (second right) © Photo Healy Racing
Half Nutz (11/1) won the concluding Lily & Wild Take-Away Picnic In Aid Of Breast Cancer Ireland Handicap to give Wayne Lordan a fine treble on the day.
A high draw in 17 (same berth as Mi Esperanza in the other big-field sprint earlier) was no disadvantage with the ground on the easy side.
Lordan bided his time in mid-division before making his effort widest of all from a furlong and a half out.
The Sir Prancealot gelding finished strongly to thwart Blairmayne (12/1) and the 9/4 favourite Fastar by half a length and a short head.
It was a first success of the season for winning trainer Sheila Lavery who said: “That was badly needed! His last two runs he’s been drawn wide and has travelled like a good thing but just hasn’t finished out.
“I feel sorry for Robbie (Colgan) who is suspended. Wayne has won on him here before and is a brilliant substitute to have.
“I just asked Wayne to absolutely bury him and ride him for luck as he’s just thinking a little bit too much and trying to go too fast.
“Wayne thinks he enjoyed the juice in the ground so I’ll keep that in mind.
“They are a lovely syndicate to train for managed by Fran Kennedy. On the back of Half Nutz they have a second filly in training.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
