Duke Of Leggagh and Gary Carroll © Photo Healy Racing
Last weekend's frustrations laid the foundation for trainer Mick Mulvany's Navan double today, as Sunday's runner-up Duke Of Leggagh (6/4f) made use of his 'well-in' status to land the Bective Restaurant Handicap. Tea Olive gave chase to Duke Of Leggagh in the home straight today but couldn't hold a candle to Sunday's Irish Racing Writers Madrid Handicap runner-up, who scored by seven lengths.
Mulvany's opening-race winner Seeingisbelieving finished second last weekend and thus, today, avoided a 4lb penalty for making a swift reappearance, with Duke Of Leggagh avoiding a 12lb rise following his quick turnaround.
“We were forced into running as the 12lb rise was going to be hard” reported Mulvany.
He added “Duke Of Leggagh is a lovely horse in the making and looks like a horse that will jump a hurdle as well. He's growing and developing all the time.
“It took a while last year for the penny to drop with him but it did in Galway and Gary (Carroll, completing a double for Mulvany) said there is still a bit left in him there so hopefully it's onwards and upwards."
“He wants that ground and he stays that trip well. I think he'll develop into a lovely three-year-old hurdler in time. His full-brother (Ideal Pal) won the novice handicap hurdle in Fairyhouse last year and he's a better horse than him.”
Regarding his handicap mark, he added “there isn't a lot I can do about that, I'll take the wins and worry about it after that.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
