McDonagh negotiates best way home on Silver Planeur Mark McDonagh took full advantage of a spare ride on second reserve Silver Planeur in the extended three mile one handicap hurdle at Sligo. The nine-year-old mare was on good terms with herself as she began to forge clear after the second last. The field was soon toiling as the 16/1 shot refused to relent. She sluiced home by 14 lengths on this return to form for trainer Eric McNamara. McDonagh said: “Going wide for the nicest ground was the key to her. I stayed out there the whole way and if I hadn’t done that, she probably wouldn’t have run as well as she did. “I know she won by a nice margin, but ground can make all the difference and a wide route on the better ground definitely helped her. “She’s a lovely mare for the lads (Rathkeale House Syndicate) and Eric will make a plan for her. Hopefully she stays sweet. I go into Eric’s to school whenever he wants me and, to be fair, he’s very good to me.” The Stewards requested a report from E. McNamara, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Silver Planeur (FR), placed first, as compared with its recent form. Michael Greaney, Authorised representative for E. McNamara stated that as the going changed following heavy rain he had instructed the rider to go wide on the best of the remaining ground and that, along with the light weight further reduced by the riders claim had in his opinion helped to bring about the apparent improvement in form. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanations given. Additional reporting by Mark Nunan
