Red Letter Bray beats the grey Little Queenie © Photo Healy Racing
Making his stable debut for Liam Cusack after nine months off the track, Red Letter Bray was a shock winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap.
The 100/1 chance was soon in front but looked booked for second when headed by Little Queenie approaching the final furlong. The New Bay gelding was not to be denied, though, and rallied well to thwart that rival by a neck.
Winning rider Leigh Roche said: “If I had ducks they'd drown at this stage! I was going terrible, I got beaten earlier today and I said 'is there anything I can do to change it?'
“Cathal Brophy that owns him is a very good friend of mine and he bought him last year.
“Michael O'Callaghan bought him at the breeze-ups last year and he won two on the bounce in Naas early on. He had a few little niggly problems but we got them sorted.
“I thought he'd need the run today. The plan was to drop in but he hit the lids. He was good and tough, he took a blow and went away again at the line. He's improving and he's not a bad horse.
“We went along a good gallop and after a furlong I said I'm going to get shot, he's going to eat me alive when I go in.
“Luckily the horse was good and tough and got me out of trouble.
“We had him up the Curragh twice before today. I said he was fit and to go and run him, he'll improve from the run and then we can make a plan from there on — just get a run into him.
“He's one to get a good pot out of. I'd say the last Flat winner Liam had I rode for him down in Galway, Bog War. That's a good few years ago and it's great to get one again.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
