Make A Challenge (Joe Doyle, right) beat Urban Beat (Shane Foley)© Photo Healy Racing
Away from the Curragh for the first time in five outings Make A Challenge justified 4/9 favouritism in the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Navan.
After an impressive success at HQ last Saturday Denis Hogan’s speedster didn’t win by anything like as far as the four length verdict achieved then.
However connections and supporters were probably always reasonably happy, though Joe Doyle’s mount did dwell at the stalls.
He then raced towards the rear before making headway under two furlongs out.
Travelling well to lead a furlong out, the Invincible Spirit gelding was pressed over a hundred yards out. Pushed out to assert in the closing stages the odds-on shot defeated Urban Beat by half a length.
“He was as good as ever there. He got a bit upset in the stalls, he got the blindfold off, and it resulted in him jumping a bit slow but it made no odds in the end and I didn't have to be too hard on him,” said Doyle.
“That was to get a blow into him for the Flying Five so it's all systems go and we're looking forward to it.
“The more rain the better for us. Hopefully we turn up on the day and I think we have a squeak.”
James J. Doyle, rider of Make A Challenge trained by Denis Gerard Hogan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got upset in the stalls.
A.J. Slattery, rider of Rapid Reaction trained by J.F.Grogan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount ran around at the start.
(GC & EM)
