Nigg Bay (left) and Denis Linehan beating Early Call and Focus Of Attention (right)© Photo Healy Racing
The near side seems to be the place to be on the sprint course at Navan this afternoon, and connections of Nigg Bay carried out a plan to perfection in the Summer Ladies Day Apprentice Handicap.
The first four home in the previous 18-runner sprint were all drawn high, so Denis Linehan took evasive action and went right after breaking in rear from stall five.
The Johnny Levins-trained gelding quickened up nicely on the stands’ side inside the final furlong and in the end won a shade cozily.
The 12/1 chance beat Early Call by three quarters of a length, with Focus Of Attention a further length away in third.
Levins said, “It was trainer error on his penultimate run as I ran him here on soft ground over the extended five furlongs. I was still learning about him and took a chance but I brought him back to Dundalk and he ran a cracking race.
“We quietly fancied him today as he is a talented horse, and I think he could develop into a high end handicapper over the sprint distances.
“He likes good fast ground, and a big thanks to David Spratt for supporting me. It was a top class ride by Denis as we went out with a plan in our head and he executed it beautifully.”
